Uhe  Siarium 

of 

/Ifoagister  Jobannes  Ifcelptus 


WITH   ANNOTATK 


JULIUS   FR1EDRICH   SACHSE 


Reprinted  from  th 
Proceedings  of  the  Pennsylvania-Gei 


LANCASTER.   PA 

! 


FROM   THE  LIBRARY  OF 


REV.   LOUIS    FITZGERALD    BENSON,  D.  D. 


BEQUEATHED    BY   HIM  TO 

THE   LIBRARY  OF 

PRINCETON  THEOLOGICAL  SEMINARY 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2012  with  funding  from 

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ultuJ)  Jl  &<ZcAa4^ 


TWENTY-FIFTH    PRESIDENT   OF   THE    PENNSYLVANIA-GERMAN   SOCIETY. 


TLhe  IDiarium 

of 

/Ifcagister  Johannes  Ikelptus 

WITH  ANNOTATIONS   BY 

JULIUS   FRIEDRICH   SACHSE 


Part  XXVII  of  a  Narrative  and  Critical  History 

published  by 

The  Pennsylvania-German  Society 


LANCASTER,  PA. 
1917 


Copyrighted  1917 

BY  THE 

ftennfglvantJteOcrman  Society. 


PRESS  OF 

THE  NEW  ERA  PRINTING  COMPANY 

LANCASTER,  PA. 


THE    PENNSYLVANIA-GERMAN    SOCIETY. 


JOHANNES    KELPIUS. 

FROM  THE  ORIGINAL  CANVAS  BY  DR.  CHRISTOPHER  WITT,   NOW  IN  THE  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY  OF  PENNSYLVANIA. 


I, 


THE  JOURNAL  OF  KELPIUS. 

Magister  Johannes  Kelpius,  the 
leader  of  the  band  of  Ger- 
man Pietists  who  came  to 
these  shores  in  the  year  of 
grace  1694,  and  settled  on 
the  banks  of  the  Wissahickon, 
will  always  remain  one  of  the 
most  picturesque  characters 
of  our  early  Pennsylvania- 
German  history;  the  more  so 
on  account  of  a  certain  air  of 
mystery  and  romance  which 
has  thus  far  enshrouded  his  personality.1 

Kelpius  and  his  company  of  German   Pietists  located 

1  For  a  full  account  of  Kelpius,  see  "  The  German  Pietists  of  Provincial 
Pennsylvania,"  Philadelphia,  1895,  pp.  219-250. 

5 


6  Introduction. 

themselves  in  what  was  then  unbroken  wilderness  upon  the 
hills  overlooking  the  Wissahickon  Creek,  a  small  stream 
which  winds  its  way  through  rocky  forest  dells  and  valleys 
until  it  mingles  its  crystal  waters  with  the  Schuylkill  River. 

Changing  the  scene  to  the  present  day,  the  wilderness 
where  Kelpius  and  his  followers  located  in  the  last  decade 
of  the  seventeenth  century,  and  erected  their  tabernacle,  is 
now  a  built-up  part  of  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  known  as 
the  twenty-first  ward,  while  the  Wissahickon  with  its 
romantic  dells,  valleys  and  rugged  hills  is  now  a  part  of 
Philadelphia's  great  natural  pleasure  ground,  known  far 
and  wide  as  Fairmount  Park. 

Unfortunately  Kelpius,  in  his  modesty,  left  but  little 
written  record  of  the  great  work  performed  by  him  during 
the  fourteen  long  years  that  he  lived  on  the  banks  of  the 
romantic  Wissahickon.  How  earnestly  he  sought  to  im- 
prove the  morals  and  spiritual  condition  of  the  rude  and 
heterogeneous  population  that  was  then  scattered  through 
eastern  Pennsylvania,  is  shown  by  the  many  traditions  and 
legends  that  have  survived  for  two  centuries. 

By  reason  of  his  scholarly  attainments,  devout  life,  inde- 
pendent bearing,  and,  it  may  be  said,  broad  humanity, 
together  with  his  repeated  refusals  of  worldly  honors  and 
civil  power,  that  were  at  various  times  thrust  upon  him,  the 
magister  on  the  Wissahickon  stands  out  in  bold  relief  as  a 
prominent  example  of  piety  and  disinterestedness. 

There  can  be  but  little  doubt  that  this  devout  scholar, 
who  thus  voluntarily  banished  himself  from  the  fatherland 
home  and  friends  had  many  difficulties  to  contend  with, 
both  within  and  without  the  community,  and  that  his  posi- 
tion at  the  head  of  such  a  fraternity  was  anything  but  a 
sinecure.    There  were  conflicting  interests  to  equalize  and, 


The  Journal  of  Kelpius. 

9?<e  o/aMe/ifap    Voice 
Of   the 
bidden  rXpve  , 

at  the    tune 
Of  Mr  S**''«*s 


ftai 


dtotjfafft* yhaU  cover  Aer  u>AlcA  /<x<J  onto  r/ie 
MAere  a  fae*£oj&  t/^y  $*<*  1  mine  «***JlaA 

tie  mere  of  fA/jfr*/* 
H%*/f*L/tf"f<*<  Secret,  6r  ffMen ,  f  MuHan,  /y 

~^77en^7IJ^ftii     77t   Amerce*    J/ay 

44.  7Z<f  &»%$?  **J"r*  af°**, /g*('d**fh 
*J£,  4 not  <*r<tA  a  £,A«g  <ts jbeciOittJtetf** 

English  Title  Page  to  Kelpius'  Ms.  Hymn  Book. 


8  Introduction. 

upon  more  than  one  occasion,  stubborn  minds  to  combat. 
When  internal  dissensions  threatened  the  fraternity  it  was 
always  left  to  Kelpius  to  use  the  olive  branch. 

So  far  as  known  to  the  present  writer,  but  two  manu- 
script volumes  of  Magister  Kelpius  have  come  down  to  us ; 


tfT^eC' 


j£~£*€9*j 


Fac-Simile  of  Title  Page  of  the  Kelpius  Journal. 

one  a  volume  of  hymns  and  music,2  the  other,  which  is  the 
subject  of  this  paper,  is  his  journal  or  diarium  in  Latin 
with  its  daily  entries  during  the  voyage  from  London  to 
Pennsylvania.  This  commences  on  the  first  day  of  Jan- 
uary, 1694,  and  ends  on  June  24,  the  passage  having  taken 
ten  weeks,  the  actual  voyage  starting  on  the  seventh  day 
of  February.     He  divides  his  entries  into  six  periods  and 

2  Ibid.,  pp.  234-243. 


The  Journal  of  Kelpius.  9 

three  weeks,  which  covers  seventeen  pages  of  the  journal; 
after  the  following  introduction,  which  is  apparently  a  quo- 
tation from  Seneca,  is  headed: 

JAttiArn,  mt4*t\  tr&nkrc  rK?K  pmeitfn     cnf>rrUitn  u*i*  t/tt 
eXtra  ha*vt  rumv  pwvi ci  tivte/t .  K&n  ^oJhriJL  mwk^mttr- 
QitltUY  fed  LoCtyS  ft   (yvamUfnA*   tc*rom   Vtnio ,  n  mc^n^ 
Vtr*lof  tudU  tXikdn   tA.  Jet \at**Y*  Patri*  tf . /kfrtk 
Lp  u IntwvL  ,  Stfxt  tA .    Si  btyrrH -Jkp****  rf/f1*7/!7' hA^Ur/ 

tytitA&uSiiMctA  ^niu./cuir?idtudkle^lcJty  fajtu  .mi?^, 
fan  oi«    (rrrvuJMur*  OaJrU  :Qerfcoh^  i*rD  W  ufttrQ  tu> 

Fac-Simile  of  Introduction. 

(disinflation.) 

"  Seneca  De  Refor." 

"  I  cannot  go  beyond  my  country:  it  is  the  one  of  all ;  no  one  can 
be  banished  outside  of  this.  My  country  is  not  forbidden  to  me, 
but  only  a  locality.  Into  whatever  land  I  come,  I  come  into  my 
own:  none  is  exile,  but  only  another  country.  My  country  is 
wherever  it  is  well ;  for  if  one  is  wise  he  is  a  traveller ;  if  foolish  an 
exile.  The  great  principle  of  virtue  is,  as  he  said,  a  mind  gradually 
trained  first  to  barter  visible  and  transitory  things,  that  it  may 
afterwards  be  able  to  give  them  up.  He  is  delicate  to  whom  his 
country  is  sweet ;  but  he  is  strong  to  whom  every  single  thing  is  his 
country;  indeed  he  is  perfect  to  whom  the  world  is  exile." 


IO 


Introduction. 


The  next  leaf  may  be  called  a  title,  and  sets  forth  that 
the  following  are  "  Literal  copies  of  letters  to  friends  in 
and  out  of  Pennsylvania,  sent  from  the  wilderness  by 
Johanno  Kelpio,  Transylvania,  1 694-1 703,  4,  5,  6,  7." 


The  Good  Ship  "  Sara  Maria,"  Capt.  Tanner,  Master. 
(Sara  Mariabonae  Spei.     Kelpius.) 


3L  N.  1* 

(In  the  Name  of  Jesus) 

January  A.  D.   1 694. 

N  the  7th  of  Jan.,  I,  convinced  by  God,  resolved  upon 
going  to  America,  my  companions  being:   Henry 
Bernard  Coster,11  Daniel  Falkner,12  Daniel  Lutke, 
John  Seelig,  Ludwig  Bidermann,13  as  well  as  about 
40  other  companions,  some  of  whom  were  numbered 
(mustered),  and  others  convicted  by  God,  in  Ger- 
many, had  as  yet  in  the  preceding  year,  resolved  upon  that  voyage. 
February       On  Feb.  7th  I  engaged  for  them  the  ship,  "  sarah  maria,"  of 
good  hope,  Captain  John  Tanner,  an  Englishman,  the  vessel  being 
hired  at  seven  (7)  English  £  of  Silver,  which  I  paid  out  on  board 


11  Henrich  Bernhard  Koster  (Coster-Kuster).  For  full  account  of  this 
early  pioneer  and  Evangelist  cf.  "  German  Pietists  in  Provincial  Pennsyl- 
vania," pp.  251-298, 

12  Daniel  Falckner.    Ibid.,  pp.  299-334. 

13  Ludwig  Christian  Biederman  was  the  first  member  of  the  community 
to  break  his  voluntary  resolution  of  celibacy.  Almost  immediately  upon  his 
arrival  in  Germantown  he  married  Maria  Margaretha,  the  daughter  of 
the  widow  of  Rev.  Johann  Jacob  Zimmermann.  Cf.  "  German  Pietists," 
pp.  460-472.    They  had  been  fellow  passengers  across  the  ocean. 


11 


12  The  Journal  of  Kelpius. 


'*** 


*£»&»*  f**n*t\i  vntnif**  %a    %%$&?  £  W&S**' 

LV    Jrwef"»»»*  **'V  ee**>* *****  £**»£  4$.  (frfi+c+f  f  Artrn 
QSh*  &—*    *4*+    '+/£)    ;H4t**ro»4. 
4tr*C<£-  S^4df  Ctn^tancf  jfrr&ntX  /atm€^tf  Aj?fl* 


j  v*  fw  fVjre^l^re^^^  *,ttV%»  *«&Jr  £d?+t  *a^«x>3 

Alii*"/"1****.  *»»*J*rJfP*Tet   ^^±Jfyf+*£* 


jc+fa.  +ar*(*J /r+'t.  e^-cp+6 .**'**/+&'*- 


Facsimile  of  First  Page  of  Diarium  of  Magister  Johannes  Kelpius. 


The  Journal  of  Kelpius.  13 

the  ship  on  the  14th  of  this  month,  having  embarked  on  the  13th, 
but  the  rest  had  embarked  on  the  12th.      ^  !4-8 

r-w.  22     d 

This  first  day  was  passed  tranquilly  on  the  Thames  river,  by  our 
people,  by  me  (in  this  manner)  for  the  greatest  part.  At  night- 
fall a  dispute  arose  concerning  the  arrangement  of  the  beds,  which 
(dispute)  kindled  the  zeal  in  P.  G.  (puellis,  Germanis — German 
girls?),  so  that  disappointed  in  the  pacific  union  of  heart,  I  deemed 
my  zeal  for  obtaining  a  single  bed  the  heaven  of  Christ,  (zelum 
and  coelum,  being  here  a  je  de  mots).  The  lewdness  might  have 
increased  (?)  until  Maria  (solitaria,  a  spinster,  lone  woman) 
brought  in  an  Ethiopian  virgin,  who  would  previously  inform  her- 
self concerning  the  purity  of  an  European  maiden,  before  she  con- 
sented to  marriage.  But  George  was  afflicted  with  a  most  severe 
illness,  the  condition  forbids  me  here,  enough,  wherefore  in  this 
manner  he  slept  alone. 

The  second  day  4.  15th  Feb.  was  lucky  for  us  (secunda  and 
secunde — 2nd  &  lucky,  another  je  de  mots).  But  the  third  was  ,5>4 
destined  fatal.  My  apprehensive  mind  presaged  evils  with  a  fortu-  16.  9 
nate  outcome.  Falkner  said  the  same  of  himself.  We  were  visited 
first  by  the  impress-gang  of  the  king.  Then  we  were  driven  towards 
sand-banks14  by  a  contrary  and  turbulent  wind ;  wishing  to  escape 
these,  we  sought  safety  in  our  anchor,  whereby  we  should  have 
perished  if  not  Divine  providence  had  made  it,  that  the  great 
weight  of  the  metal,  which,  under  our  ship,  would  have  perforated 
the  same  had  not  the  anchor  been  broken  itself.  Our  anchor  being 
lost  in  this  manner,  we  were  at  length  borne  upon  the  sand-banks 
by  the  whirl.  All,  saving  a  few,  feared  the  end  was  at  hand. 
The  Captain  having  fired  off  four  cannon,  called  those  who  were 
near  to  the  rescue,  but  took  pity  on  none  of  us.  We  furled  the 
sails  and  committed  the  vessel  to  the  turbulent  billows,  whilst 
the  sailors  were  despairing.  I  had  hold  (of)  the  turtle-dove,  that 
is  not  to  be  deserted,  about  the  middle  (waist)   from  the  begin- 

(Pag*  2  ot  St?0,) 

ning  (Feb.  16)  of  the  storm,  a  divine  witness,  when  already  I  saw 


14  Probably  one  of  the  shoals  known  as  the  Goodwin  Sands. 


14  The  Journal  of  Kelpius. 

our  pilot  despairing  in  the  midst  of  our  distress,  when  I  was 
admonished,  likewise,  that  by  bearing  witness  concerning  the  most 
certain  aid  of  God,  I  should  raise  his  faith  and  hope,  but  being 
agitated  myself,  I  kept  my  thoughts  for  myself.  I  was  admonished 
a  second  time,  but  seeing  him  intent  on  other  matters  and  turned 
away  from  me,  I  held  my  peace  in  turn.  All  were  despairing 
and  invoked  the  name  of  Jesus,  as  if  about  to  journey  into  another 
life.  Then  being  admonished  (divinely)  for  the  third  time,  I 
said  to  the  pilot :  "  Have  faith  in  God,  who  certainly  will  save 
us."  The  pilot  rejoiced,  for  he  was  not  so  ignorant  of  divine 
matters.  He  pressed  my  hands  and  said :  "  God  alone  can  help  me 
everywhere,  on  Him  shall  I  hope."  Said,  done  (No  sooner  had 
he  said  these  words  than  they  were  fulfilled ) .  The  storm  began  to 
drive  the  ship  away  from  the  sand-banks  into  deep  water,  where 
casting  anchor,  we  praised  God  in  safety.  Meanwhile  Coster,  with 
the  rest,  had  been  pouring  forth  strong  supplication  to  God  (and 
indeed,  about  that  time,  when  I  began  to  collect  my  thoughts)  as 
soon  as  I  was  admonished  for  the  3rd  time,  inwardly,  and  addressed 
the  pilot,  he  had  changed  his  entreaty  to  a  prayer  of  thanksgiving, 
being  sure  his  wish  had  been  granted,  though  not  knowing  what 
just  now  was  being  done  by  us  (with  us). 

I  went  below,  rejoicing  in  our  deliverance,  to  announce  the 
glad  tidings.  I  told  them  what  had  been  done  by  me  just  a  little 
while  ago,  and  they,  in  turn,  related  their  experience;  therefore 
I  no  longer  wondered  at  the  divine  virtue  in  me  while  I  prayed, 
(their  prayers  had  so  powerfully  aided  me).  I  went  up  on  deck 
and  explained  the  matter  more  fully  to  the  pilot,  who  began  to 
praise  the  Lord  with  folded  hands,  especially  when  I  added,  that 
still  more  dangers  were  imminent  (threatening),  but  that  I  was 
fully  convinced  of  the  final  aid  of  God.  Going  below  for  the  2nd 
time,  I  also  disclosed  this  matter  to  my  brethren,  when  Falkner, 
filled  with  the  spirit  of  God,  poured  forth  fervent  thanksgiving: 
Praised  be  the  name  of  the  Lord  for  ever!    Amen!.     Hallelujah! 


THE    PENNSYLVANIA-GERMAN    SOCIETY. 


i 

k 

} 

"**■ 

1   * '  ;;7fc 

J 

i 

HENRICH     BERNHARD    KOSTER. 

ONE  OF  THE   LEADERS  OF  THE   KELPIUS   COMMUNITY  ON  THE   WISSAHICKON. 


Februaiy 


The  Journal  of  Kelp'uis.  15 

(Page  3  of  9900 

The  fourth  day  the  Sabbath  was,  indeed,  a  Sabbath  for  us,  17-  h 
who,  in  this  quietude,  persevered  in  the  praises  of  God,  our  18.  q 
Preserver. 

The  fifth  day,  which  was  of  the  sun  (lis-solisf)  the  infant  son 
of  Henry  Lorentz,  died,  aged  6  months,  his  remains  were  cast  into 
the  sea  (or,  "he  fell  into  the  sea").  We  were  again  visited  by 
the  royal  impress  gang,  who  would  have  borne  off  as  their  booty 
three  of  the  best  attendants  of  our  pilot  (captain)  under  pretense 
of  the  Swedish  nation  (for  Swedes  they  were)  had  not  divine  favor 
won  over  unto  us  the  hearts  of  the  soldiers;  for  Coster  had  pre- 
viously poured  forth  a  most  fervent  prayer.  By  the  aforesaid  provi- 
dence, those  impressors  carried  off  from  a  neighboring  vessel,  that 
was  going  to  sail  to  America  with  us,  three  Belgian  sailors. 
Thereafter  we  were  happily  borne  by  a  gentle  breeze  from  out  of 
that  dangerous  place  to  one  more  secure,  and  there,  having  cast 
anchor,  we  remained  through  the  night. 

On  the  6th  day,  we  vainly  sought  for  our  lost  anchor,  but,  a 
great  calm  arising,  we  were  obliged  to  rest,  making  up  for  the 
delay  by  reading  the  Bible  and  dissertations  on  sacred  subjects.  At 
night  we  were  in  turn  visited  by  the  impress-gang,  who  carried  off 
one  of  our  younger  servants,  yet  we,  in  turn,  acquired  a  former 
servant  and  sailor  of  the  king's. 

On  the  7th  day,  we  were  borne  by  a  favorable  wind  over  (past) 
rocky  and  sandy  ledges  and  on  the  right,  leaving  behind  for  ever 
the  shore  of  England.  About  even-tide  there  approached  to  us 
some  men-of-war  with  22  other  vessels,  bearing  and  accompanying 
Prince  Ludwig  of  Baden  from  England  to  Holland.  At  night, 
casting  anchor  beyond  the  rocks,  we  slept  securely  and  soundly 
(on  either  ear). 

The  8th  day  (i.  e.  the  7th  of  our  sailing),  brought  Sabbath 
and  rest,  for,  happily,  a  south-wind  blowing,  we  were  borne  to  a 
place  called  "  Downs  "  by  the  English,  where  the  rest  of  the  ships 
that  were  going  to  sail  to  America  with  us,  were  assembled.  lj_ 


*i 


1 6  The  Journal  of  Kelpius. 

(Page  4  ot  9?&) 

t  (Period  Second) 

February  At  that  port  (Downs) 15  we  awaited  for  about  2  weeks  for  a  favor- 
able wind,  and  the  royal  mandate,  shortening  the  long,  weary  hours 
by  dissertations  on  sacred  subjects  and  by  study  of  the  Bible. 
Meanwhile  we  sent  letters  to  London  and  to  Germany  to  Tob. 
Ad.  Lauterbach16  (Feb.  27th)  also  to  others  from  whom  we  re- 
ceived answers  full  of  most  auspicious  omens.17  The  other  part  (of 
our  company)  which  had  been  excluded,  at  London,  on  account 
of  their  depraved  manners,  from  us  and  our  spiritual  intercourse, 
wasting  their  time  in  brawls  and  fights,  were  a  scandal  even  to  the 
lower  (inferior)  sailors,  who  wondered  that  the  young  women 
were  beaten  by  the  men.  But  even  the  triumvirate  itself  (for  3 
families  had  been  excluded)  was  split  up  into  factions,  and  had  not 
one  yielded  to  another,  the  matter  might  have  come  from  words  to 
blows,  as  I  have  said  was  done  at  the  former  fight. 
March  On  March  3rd  our  Captain  received  another  anchor,  like  unto 
the  one  that  was  lost,  though  inferior  to  the  latter,  yet  most 
acceptable  unto  us.  Scarcely  had  we  received  this  anchor  when  we 
were  again  visited  by  a  furious  storm,  and  what  increased  the 
danger,  the  two  anchors,  which  we  had  cast,  became  interlocked 
and  could  hardly  be  adjusted  (set  aright)  though  it  took  a  long 
time.  Loosed,  we  were,  meanwhile  being  borne  nearer  and  nearer 
to  the  rocky  and  sandy  ledges.  We  saw  the  cables  sustaining  the 
anchor  of  a  ship  not  far  off  being  torn  asunder.  We  heard  the 
boom  of  cannon  of  vessels  in  despair;  at  the  same  time  we  saw 
broken  spars  floating  here  and  there.  But  what  our  fate  would 
have  been,  I  could  not  (was  not  allowed  to)  inquire,  nevertheless 
we  were  extricated  out  of  this  danger,  we  were  freed. 


15  "  The  Downs,"  a  spacious  roadstead  in  the  English  Channel  affording 
an  excellent  anchorage.  It  is  between  the  shore  and  the  Goodwin  Sands 
and  is  much  used  by  the  British  Navy. 

16  Tob.  Ad.  Lauterbach,  one  of  the  leaders  of  the  Philadelphiac  Com- 
munity. 

17  This  was  during  the  universal  war  then  waged  against  Louis  XIV  of 
France,  1689^-1697.  In  American  history  it  is  known  as  "King  William's 
War." 


The  Journal  of  Kelpius.  17 

(Paffe  5  ot  9p*0 

On  the  following  day  I  received  a  letter  from  Samuel  Walden- 
field,   residing   in   the   "  Lamp "   on   Frenchurch   St.,   London,   in   March 
which  letter  some  money  was  assigned  to  me  (a  draft),  sent  from   Divine 
Holland   by  a  devout    (Lat.   divina)    virgin,   Catharine   Beerens,   virgin 
van  Boswig,  said  money  to  be  received  of  Samuel  Standeriwk,  at 
Deal,18  who  received  me  and  my  companion  Seelig,  very  civilly,  on 
the  following  day,  and  by  way  of  conversation,  he  manifested  great 
interest  (was  wonderfully  delighted)  in  the  affairs  of  the  Pietists 
of  Germany,  and  desired  that  we  should  often  come  to  see  him; 
but  our  unexpected  departure  on  March  8th,  frustrated  our  in- 
tention.    For  the  man-of-war  accompanying  us,  received  orders     8 
from  the  King  to  set  sail.     Therefore,  unfurling  our  sails,  about     4 
sunset,  we  were  borne  along  by  the  east  wind  with  19  accompany- 
ing vessels,  whereof  3  were  men-of-war. 

Next  day  our  Captain  received  instructions,  from  the  admiral  of 
the  war-vessels,  concerning  his  course  of  action  on  the  voyage,  by     9.  9 
day  and  by  night,  in  all  events,  in  calm  or  storm,  in  peace  or  war. 
They  read  as  follows: — 

"Instructions  for  your  (the)  Boat  or  keeping  Company  with 
"  their  Majesty's  Ship  ye  "  Sandados  Prize,"  under  my  Com- 
"  mand: — 

"  If  I  weigh  in  ye  day  I  will  hauld  from  my  foartop  sail  shrouds 
"  and  fire  a  Gunn.  If  in  ye  night  I  will  putt  a  Light  in  ye  main 
"  topmast  shrouds  and  fire  a  Gunn,  which  Light  you  are  to 
"  answer.  If  I  weigh  in  fog  I  will  fire  3  guns  distinctly  one  after 
"  another. 

"  If  I  anchor  in  ye  night  or  in  a  fogg  I  will  fire  2  Guns  a  small 
"  distance  of  time  one  from  ye  other  and  putt  aboard  a  Light 
"  more  than  my  constant  Lights  which  Light  you  are  to  answer." 

(page  6  ot  $&**) 

•    "  If  i  lye  by  or  try  in  the  Night,  i  will  fire  five  Guns,  and    M.  rch 
"  keep  a  Light  abroad  more  than  my  constant  light  in  the  Main- 
"  Schrouds,  and  if  through  extremity  of  Weather  we  are  forced  to 


18  Deal,  a  seaport  and  market  town  in  Kent,  England.    It  has  no  harbor. 


1 8  The  Journal  of  Kelpius. 

"lye  a  Holl  or  under  a  Mizon,  i  will  fire  three  Guns,  and  put 
"  abroad  two  Lights  of  equal  height  more  than  my  constant  Light, 
"  and  if  i  make  sail  in  the  Night  after  blowing  Weather,  or  after 
"  lying  by,  or  for  any  other  reason,  i  will  make  the  same  sign  as 
"  for  weighing  in  the  Night,  wich  Light  you  are  to  answer. 

"  In  case  of  separation  if  we  meet  by  day,  the  weathermost  ship 
"  schall  lower  his  Fore-Top-Sail,  and  those  the  Levard  schall  an- 
"  swer  by  Lowering  their  Main-Top-Sail. 

"  He  that  apprehends  any  danger  in  the  Night  schall  fire  Guns 
"  and  put  abroad  Three  Lights  of  equal  height,  and  bear  away,  or 
"  Tack  from  it ;  but  if  it  schould  happen  to  be  strange  ships,  then 
"  make  false  fires  and  endeavour  to  to  speack  with  my  (me)  ;  and 
"  to  better  to  Ruon  each  other  in  the  night,  he  that  hails  schall 
"  ask  what  schip  is  that,  and  he  that  is  heilet  schall  answer  Adven- 
"  ture,  than  he  that  hailet  first  schall  reply  Rupert. 

(^afft  7  Ot  9?*-) 

"  If  i  have  a  desire  to  speak  with  you,  i  will  hoist  a  Jack- Flag 
"  in  my  Mizon-Top-Mast-Schrouds,  and  make  a  Weft  with  my 
"  ensign. 

"If  you  have  a  desire  to  speak  with  my,  you  schall  hoist  your 
"  Ensign  in  your  Pain-Top-Mast-Schrouds. 

"If  in  the  night  you  chance  to  spring  a  Leak,  keep  firing  of 
"  Guns,  and  showing  of  Lights." 

"  Dated  on  Board  their  Will  Allen. 

"  Majesty's  Ship  "  Sandados  Prize  " 
"  March  ye  9,  169J4. 

On  the  third  day  we  were  borne  by  a  favorable  wind,  leaving, 

io  at  about  noon,  the  Isle  of  Wight  on  the  right.     On  the  4th  day, 

*2    which  was  a  Sunday,  with  bright  sunshine,  a  most  gentle,  yet  very 

0    favorable  breeze  blowing,  we  entered  the  harbor  of  Plymouth  (than 

which  we  could  have  scarcely  wished  a  better)  about  five  o'clock 

in  the  evening,  and  lo!  the  Belgian  war-ships,  ceding,  as  it  were, 

their  station  unto  us,  left  the  port.     We,  entering  port,  occupied 

their  former  place,  &  now  safely  moored  from  billows  and  storms, 

we  had,  moreover,  to  the  west,  our  men-of-war,  &  a  citadel,  con- 


The  Journal  of  Kelpius.  19 


M. 


^  J-J-i^flu     -r*l/rr     Voir    f'« ****»<     cn<i*t<-£. 


sjuk  /A?  'SjfoffSf* 2  e 


*h+i*'    yc 


}*f\CcK  numi      ctr  r#%     /*<*>  4  "t   ^  IW  •«•*"<>».      tZJHe  r  *>*a  **(  +4 /r±e 
fiAi'tJ    frU'iL*    OcU/s*   »~4t;  fvaji'  Ue*<^    .J^c^icf  t^K- 

fffitti'tot* >y*  «+*4f~  fdrfdt** ,  y  V*  D    4^«*   <<"-  /  tit*,*.* 

^<^m  *f/C^«  ^/^Ts   w***^*!T*Scc>*9*****  fc« 

Fac-Simile  of  Page  Containing  the  Orders  of  Capt.  Allen. 


H*-^ 
& 


20  The  Journal  of  Kelpius. 

taining  as  many  guns  (cannon)  as  there  are  days  in  the  year, 
namely  365. 

(Pafi*  8  ot  S£&) 

PERIOD   THIRD. 

At  this  place  we  tarried  for  five  weeks,  vainly  expecting  the 
royal  convoys.  Meanwhile  we  became  familiar  with  sundry  citizens 
of  Plymouth.  The  rest  of  our  time  was  spent  in  sacred  exercises 
&  meditation.  I,  for  my  part,  received  some  letters  from  Cleves 
&  Nuremberg,  wherefore  I  was  not  so  much  in  a  quandary  con- 
cerning the  manner  of  our  voyage,  but  I  answered  all  objections 
satisfactorily,  directing  moreover  other  letters  to  Lauterbach,  Mons 
April   de  Wateville,  Moerkamp  &  others,  chiefly  at  London. 

But  when,  on  April  15th,  Danish,  Swedish  &  Spanish  floats 
landed,  we  bargained  with  these  for  their  convoy,19  &  gave  up  wait- 
ing for  the  royal  vessels,  &  on  the  18th,  with  a  favorable  south 
18.8  wind,  the  sea  being  clear,  we  ventured  on  our  voyage,  at  about  10 
+  a.m.  But,  lo!  when  we  had  scarcely  left  port,  we  were  driven 
about  by  a  contrary  breeze,  moreover,  we  descried  three  stately 
ships,  which  we  first  took  to  be  French  men-of-war,  but  found  out 
afterwards  they  were  Portuguese.  During  the  night  a  heavy  fog 
arose,  so  that  we  were  borne  along,  as  it  were,  blind-folded  &  lost 
the  English  coast,  to  which,  resplendent  in  the  evening  sun,  we  had 
bidden  farewell,  directing  our  course  westward  with  a  favoring 
north-wind,  &  with  38  vessels  accompanying,  being  mostly  Spanish, 
these  first  discoverers  but  now  hated  settlers  of  the  new  world, 
conveying  us,  seemingly,  towards  a  better  hope. 

On  this  day,  on  account  of  the  opposition  of  O  &  8  20.  §  the 

+ 

superstitious  crew  expected  a  huge  tempest,  but  an  altogether  in- 
different sky  permitted  a  prosperous  course  under  Lat.  49 °  33'.  At 
the  same  time  also  on  the  following  days  5  £sf  O  &  so  that  that 
formidable  opposition  neither  from  before  nor  behind  exercised 
(?)  their  powers. 


19  In  this  war,  under  the  league  of  Augsburg,  almost  the  whole  of  Europe 
was  arrayed  against  France. 


The  Journal  of  Kclpius.  21 

(Page  9  ot  Sfttf.) 

On  this  day  the  south  wind  blew  rather  violently.  Hourly  we  April 
traversed  5  English  miles,  but  our  convoys  were  scattered  all  day  23-  ) 
long  &  could  hardly  be  kept  together  by  their  highest  officers.  At 
mid-day  the  wind  veered  from  south  to  west,  scarcely  giving  us 
time  for  furling  sail,  &  awaiting,  as  yet,  the  dispersed  vessels,  our 
main-mast  sail  alone  expanded,  we  ploughed  leisurely,  the  hostile 
sea.  So  the  most  favorable  aspect  of  the  constellations  had  caused 
one  of  the  worst  storms. 

Hereafter,   on   the   24th,    under   Lat.   480  9',   our   ships   were   24.  ? 
gathered  together.    On  the  25th,  under  Lat.  470  49',  with  a  favor-  2S.  g 
able  east-wind,  we  bade  farewell,  in  the  evening,  to  our  Spanish       + 
convoys,  rewarding  them  also.     The  name  of  their  highest  officer 
was  Nicholas  De  Rudder. 

PERIOD    FOURTH. 

Leaving,    therefore,    the    Spanish    vessels    25-behind,    we    were   May- 
borne  from  Lat.  47 °  3'  to  Lat.  43 °  58',  being  favoured  by  a  most 
delightful  east-wind  throughout  the  week.     In  longitude  we  trav- 
ersed more  than  300  leagues  (1200  geog.  mi.),  so  prosperous  was 
the  2nd  week  of  our  voyage.    But  on  the  1st  day  of  the  3rd  week,     2  $ 
which  was  the  2nd  of  May,  there  blew  an  ugly  west-wind,  which       + 
sorely  vexed  us  on  the  following  night. 

(Page  10  ot  S9&) 

3.  An  auspicious  day.     A  north-wind  drove  us  from  our  place.     ^  y_ 
4.  In  consequence  of  the  wind  changing  to  west,  we  were  tossed   May 
about  all  night,  being  hurried  along  on  the  tempestuous  gale.    At     4    c» 
the  3rd  night-watch  it  veered  towards  the  north.     5.  Weathering     4.5. 
fierce  storms,  we  finally  proceeded  with  a  favorable  north-wind.     6.  0. 
6.  Under  Lat.  490  55',  with  west-wind,  we  sailed  southward,  until, 
at  last,  on  the  7th,  we  passed  through  an  unfavorable  night.     Dur-     7.  J 
ing  the  day,  we  encountered  several  storms,  losing  our  fore-masts, 
that  of  the  prow  &  2  of  the  middle  (the  twin  masts).     Moreover, 
we  were  unable  to  ascertain  our  latitude,  neither  moon,  sun,  nor 


22  The  Journal  of  Kelpius. 

stars  appearing;  but  a  little  before  evening  devotions,  a  north-wind 
3    ^    cheered    the    sailors.     8.  Under    Lat.    4i°22/,    we    sailed    along 
happily,  restoring,  in  part,  our  lost  masts. 

PERIOD   FIFTH. 

9-8  Our  stormy  week  being  at  an  end,  we  entered  upon  a  warlike 
one.  Scarcely  had  we  arisen  after  a  turbulent  night,  when  squalls 
IO-  %  prevented  our  refitting  the  masts.  Early  on  the  ioth,  we  beheld 
from  afar,  three  vessels.  Presently  they  advanced  toward  us.  Some 
conjectured  they  were  English  ships  homeward  bound  from  Ameri- 
can shores.  But  when,  after  hoisting  our  colors,  we  perceived, 
they  did  not  reply,  but  kept  on  approaching  nearer  and  nearer,  we 
thought,  they  were  bent  on  an  engagement.  In  this  we  erred  not. 
For  they  were  French,  &  their  largest  vessel  carried  22  cannon,  the 
2nd  io,  &  the  smallest  6  cannon,  &  since  they  sailed  with  a  favor- 
May  able  wind,  they  challenged  us  to  battle.  We,  having  made  prepara- 
tions for  j£  an  hour,  kept  on  the  defensive  only,  &  that  so  bravely, 

(Page  ll  ot  90.) 

that  the  largest  vessel  took  to  flight.  Our  companion  vessel  the 
"  Providence,"  seeing  this,  came  up  to  us,  already  victors,  to  the 
pursuit  of  the  French  vessels,  which,  now,  all  fled  with  every  sail 
expanded.  And  because  the  "  Providence  "  was  of  superior  speed, 
she  alone  coped  with  the  fleeing  vessels,  with  such  eagerness,  as 
though  we  had  gained  a  greater  victory.  Sometimes,  however, 
whilst  being  greatly  troubled  by  her  three  adversaries,  she  would 
wait  for  us  to  come  up,  until,  at  last,  we  obtained  possession  of  the 
smallest  ship,  which  carried  six  cannon.  With  this  we  were  con- 
tented, although  we  could  have  captured  the  rest,  yet,  deeming  that 
superfluous,  we  began  to  sing  a  song  of  triumph  (paean). 

Strange  to  say,  in  this  battle  of  four  hours'  duration,  we  were 
struck  by  three  cannon-balls  only,  &  that  without  any  one's  being 
hurt,  &  with  but  little  damage  to  our  vessel.  On  board  the  vessel 
we  captured,  one  man  had  been  wounded  in  his  foot,  another  had 
his  head  torn  off,  &  the  remaining  ships,  what  losses  had  they  not 
sustained?    On  this  and  on  the  following  day,  we,  marvelling  at 


The  Journal  of  Kelpius.  23 

divine  Providence,  worshipped  &  praised  the  name  of  God.  But  11.  9 
marry,  the  vicissitudes  of  human  affairs !  Again  two  vessels  loomed 
up,  are  they  friends  or  foes?  We  were  in  a  quandary.  We  also 
recollected,  that  two  French  war-ships  were  still  at  large,  &  we 
had  heard  our  prisoners  remark,  that  one  of  those  carried  80  can- 
non, &  the  other  was  an  armored  one.  Hence  we  again  prepared 
ourselves   for   another   encounter.      They    however,    altered    their   May 

(page  \2  ot  flp*0 

course  &  thus,  what  seemed  to  be  our  ruin,  came  happily  off,  &  we, 
our  fears  being  somewhat  allayed,  rested  our  weary  limbs. 

Occasionally,  we  were  amused  by  the  gambols  of  the  monsters 
of  the  deep,  some  having  the  form  of  calves,  others  that  of  horses, 
and  still  others  that  of  whales.  Especially  at  night  they  presented 
a  fine  spectacle,  when  vying,  as  it  were,  in  speed  with  our  vessel, 
they  seemed  just  as  moving  through  a  sea  of  fire,  (Phosphores- 
cence). But,  lo!  -/2.  Late  in  the  morning  another  ship  hove  in  I2  i^. 
sight,  just  as  if  six  navigators  had  met,  first  three  to  two,  then  two 

to  three  ( for  we  were  sailing  already  with  our  booty),  lastly, 

one  being  offered  to  our  view.  Concerning  this  last  vessel,  our 
minds  were  uneasy  but  for  short  space,  since  no  sooner  had  she 
appeared,  than  she  withdrew.  The  French  vessels  returning  from 
Martinique  had  thus  far  troubled  us  enough. 

Sunday,  bright  sun-shine,  under  Lat.  390  48',  laying  care  aside,  ,  op  |( 
we  were  cheered  by  a  favorable  east-wind;  shortly  before,  it  had 
been  from  the  north.  Then  with  heavy  sea-weed  (  ?),  we  ploughed 
the  main.  On  the  15th,  the  wind  veering  to  south,  we  slacked 
our  course,  meanwhile  the  sailors  looked  with  covetous  eyes  at  our 
French  prey,  grumbling  at  our  captain,  who  kept  appeasing  his 
hunger  for  sugar,  &  quenching  his  thirst  for  cider  (with  which 
merchandise  the  ship  was  fraught),  until  he  promised  that  all 
should  be  partakers,  just  as  himself,  of  the  unjust  mammon,  as 
soon  as  the  latter  should  have  been  made  of  private  right  from  (by) 
the  lawful  judges  of  these  matters  (pilfered  from  them). 


14- 


195- 


24  The  Journal  of  Kelpius. 

PERIOD   SIXTH. 

(Page  13  ot  St?*,) 

May       The  fifth  week  of  the  warfare,  the  i6th  day  began  under  Lat. 
16.  17.   39°  21',  the  17th,  morn  advanced,  presented  a  ship  returning  from 
8.  11-  Antego,  though  first  preparing  for  battle  with  the  same,  yet  we 
+         spent  the  remainder  of  the  day  most  amicably,  &  entrusted  letters 
for  London  with  the  same,  determining  (settling)  also  the  contro- 
versy (dispute)  concerning  our  French  booty,  from  which  we  had 
18.  9    taken  two  cannon.     On  the  18th,  east  wind  shortly  before  mid- 
night winged  our  flight,  but  scarcely  four  sails  were  unfurled  on 
account  of  the  lazy-tardy  bulk  of  our  French  prey.     We  tarried, 
therefore,  for  the  latter,  &  on  the  19th,  tired  of  waiting,  we  bade 
farewell  to  the  "  Providence,"  leaving  her  in  charge  of  the  booty, 
&  so  we  went  (proceeded)  before  alone,  leaving  all  the  ships  be- 

20.  0    hind,  that  had  set  out  with  us  from  England.     But  on  the  20th, 

the  wind   being  contrary  and   exceedingly  strong,  which  hardly 

21.  J    moderated  on  the  21st  &  22nd.     At  this  juncture,  I  recalled  a 
22.   $   He   Prophet,  x  who  prophesied  for  me  x  while  yet  in  London,  that 

was  Peter   cnerubim  would  be  the  companion  of  our  way  &  our  protectors  in 

danger,  &  that  this  would  be  a  sign  that  we  should  accept  of  Divine 

assistance,  to  wit,  that  although  having  left  behind  all  other  vessels, 

yet  we  alone  should  precede  with  contrary  wind,  &  should  happily 

23-   draw  (come)  ashore  in  America,  i.  e.  23.    The  sixth  week,  looking 

8    at  our  companions,  you  would  say,  they  are  snugly  at  Philadelphia, 

~*~   they  were  borne  in  love.    North-wind  also  seemed  to  favor,  but,  as 

if  heaven  had  decreed  otherwise,  a  west-wind  visited  us  with  storms, 

when  already  in  Lat.  370,  we  were  approaching  Virginia,  which  we 

May    sought.    Therefore  on  the  25th,  we  were  driven  northward  to  Lat. 

24.    390,  whilst  the  sailors  were  becoming  apprehensive,  for  a  huge 

(Page  14  of  $90.) 

4-  9    vessel  seemed  to  sail  by,  (Flying  Dutchman?).     But  on  the  26th, 
6   ?'   late  in  the  morning,  we  came,  very  unexpectedly,  up  to  seven  ships. 
These  were  returning  from  Virginia  to  England.     To  our  great 
dismay  we  learned  from  them,  that  we  were  as  yet  250  leagues  dis- 
ci  tant  from  land most  agreeably  to  our  reckoning.    We  entrusted 


The  Journal  of  Kelpius.  25 

unto  them  letters  to  London,  &  bade  farewell  &  directed  our  course   29.  o 
from  Circins  (?)   to  Notolybinn   (?).     Which  line,  also,  we  fol-   28.   ) 
lowed  on  the  27th,  the  blessed  day  of  Pentecost  (Whit-Sunday)  &   29.  S 
on  the  28th  &  29th.    The  seventh  week  was  the  most  steadfast  in   3°-  8 
inconstancy,  for  now  wre  were  borne  south,  now  north.    But  on  the        -f- 
31st,  the  wind  turned  from  Circins    (?)    to  north,  presently  to   31-  11 
Caecins,  (north-east)  then  to  east  to  Libanotus,  and  lastly,  to  south- 
west.    June  1st,  just  as  yesterday,  we  experienced  variable  wind,   June 
but  yesterday  it  was  clear,  to-day,  however,  we  had  rain-storms     "•  9 
(showers),  &  about  eventide  we  were  cherished  (comforted)  by  a 
huge  parasite  fish   (Shirk),  at  the  same  time  a  strong  north-east 
wind   steadily   kept   advancing   us    about   two   leagues   per   hour 
throughout  the  entire  night.     The  same  north-east  wind,  though     2.  ^ 
less  constant,  favored  us.    During  the  morning  hours,  a  dolphin  of 
medium  size  was  caught  in  our  (unmoved)  anchor.    He  was  yellow   June 
as  gold,  spotted  with  red. 

(Page  15  ot  S£g.) 

(The  dolphins  must  have  been  wedged  between  anchor  &  poop!) 
(When  (while)  from  the  opposite,  our  parasite  of  yesterday,  with  June 
huge  bulk,  &  seven  foot  length  tickled  neither  our  eyes  so  much,  nor 
our  taste  yet  the  dolphin  filled  out  both,  though  not  confirming 
credibility  (stapability)  the  fable  of  the  ancients  concerning  the  love 
of  music,  unless,  perchance,  you  should  say  our  English  crew  erred 
in  the  name.     3.  To-day  an  uninterrupted  &  brisk  north-east  wind 
drove  us  directly  away  from  a  ship  we  should  otherwise  have  met.     3-  0 
Whether  the  latter  were  friend  or  foe,  we  could  not  tell.    Neverthe- 
less they  seemed  to  entertain  some  fear  &  sailed  back,  whence  they 
had  come.     4.   Under  lat.  38 °  10'  we  had  favorable  north-east, 
soon  after  changing  to  east,  then  to  south-east  under  lat.  360  53',     4.  _) 
where  with  full  sail,  we  outstripped  the  birds,  so  that  on  the  follow- 
ing 5th  &  6th,  on  the  completion  of  our  seventh  week,  we  augured, 
we  should  see  dry  land;  nor  should  we  have  been  deceived  in  our     5-   & 
augury,  had  not  the  wind  changed  from  south  to  south-west. 

4.  7.  &  8.  &  9.     The  same  south-west  wind  continuing,  we  were     7-  8.  9. 
driven  north-east-ward,  &  disappointed  in  our  hope  of  descrying 


26  The  Journal  of  Kelpius. 

land.     10.  O    But  yet,  on  the  50th  day  after  our  departure  from 
10.  o    England,  we  touched  the  bottom  of  the  sea  at  only  38  threads 
(fathoms?  38  X  6  =  —  228  feet). 

But  lo!  for  four  hours  we  were  tossed  about  by  a  double  storm 
&  wind  until, 

(Pag*  16  of  Q?0.) 

June 
IX  -k  at  last,  north-east  wind,  so  often  longed  for,  favored  us,  which, 
^  nevertheless,  on  the  nth,  turned  to  north,  so  that,  although  al- 
most entering  port,  yet  we  could  not  accomplish  this  end.  12. 
From  afar  we  descried  three  vessels,  &  from  about  $}4  a.m.  to  12 
noon,  we  beheld  a  huge  eclipse  of  the  sun  under  lat.  360  45'. 
And  lo!  the  eclipse  over,  we  entered  by  a  most  blessed  influence 
(considering  externalities)  the  bay  of  Virginia  (Chesapeake)  to- 
wards 8  p.m.,  casting  anchor  somewhat  after  midnight. 

Ninth  Week 

8    1 1 

+   *  Beginning  with  the  new  &  ninth  week,  a  good  south-west  blow- 

4.  14  mg>  we  traversed  40  leagues,  until,  leaving  the  coast  of  Virginia 
&  sailing  along  that  of  Maryland,  we  went  to  the  lord-protectors 
iS-  '6  royal  deputies  (procurators  region)  to  inform  them  of  the  why  & 
wherefore  of  our  coming  to  the  new  world.  Having  tasted  of  the 
fruits,  which  grew  in  great  abundance  along  the  shore,  we  pur- 
sued the  remainder  of  our  way. 

The  memorable  excommunication  of  Falkner  by  Coster,  &  that 
of  Anna  Maria  Schuchart,  the  Prophetess  of  Erfurt  (Erphorti- 
anae)  ! 

Tenth  Week 

In  the  tenth  week.  19.  we  all  went  ashore  (disembarked), 
(literally  "kissed  the  ground  (earth")  5.  22.  Went  to  New 
Castle;  23  ©  to  Philadelphia,  &  finally  24.  ^  t0  Germantown. 

Then  follow  copies  of  the  nine  missives  sent  to  persons 
at  home  and  abroad,  viz. : 


The  Journal  of  Kelpius.  27 

1.  German  letter  to  Henrich  Joh.  Deichman3  in  London, 

dated  September  24,  1697 17-20 

2.  To  the  same  May  12,  by  Jan.  van  Leveringh4 21-34 

3.  Postscript  to  above  by  Johann  Selig5 35~40 

4.  Missive  to  Mr.  Steven  Momfort6  in  Long  Island,  De- 

cember 11,  1699,  in  America  Concerning  the  Pietists 

in  Germany  {English)    41-47 

5.  Letter  to  Rev.  Tobias  Erie  Biorck,7  Pastor  of  the  Swed- 

ish Lutheran  Church  at  Christiana  {Latin)    48-60 

6.  To  Maria  Elizabeth  Gerber8  in  Virginia,  an  answer  to 

her  letter,  in  which  she  requests  an  expression  of  my 
opinion  concerning  the  Quakers  {German)   61-83 

7.  To  Magister  Fabritius,9  Prof.  Theol.  in  Helmstad  July 

I,  1705    {German)    84-88 

8.  To  his  "  Hertzens  "  Brother  Deichman,  July  23,  1705 

{German)    89-91 

9.  Of  the  Threefold  Wilderness  State  viz. :  ( 1 )  The  Bar- 

ren, (2)  The  Fruitfull  &  (3)  the  Wilderness  of  the 

3  Henrich  Johann  Deichman,  leader  of  the  Philadelphiac  Movement  in 
Europe. 

4  Jan.  Van.  Leveringh,  a  member  of  the  Levering  family  who  returned 
to  Europe.     Cf.  "  German  Pietists,"  p.  338. 

5  Johann  Gottfried  Selig,  one  of  the  leaders  of  the  Kelpius  Community. 
For  biographical  sketch  cf.  "  German  Pietists." 

6  Stephen  Mumford  (born  1639;  died  July,  1701)  is  accredited  with 
being  the  founder  of  the  Seventh-day  Baptist  Church  in  America.  Cf. 
"  German  Pietists,"  pp.  136  et  seq.  Also  "  Seventh  Day  Baptists  in  Europe 
and  America,"  by  Professor  Corlies  F.  Randolph,  Vol.  II,  Plainfield,  N.  J. 

7  Rev.  Tobias  Eric  Biorck,  pastor  of  the  Swedish  Lutheran  Church  at 
Christiana   (Wilmington,  Del.). 

8  Maria  Elizabeth  Gerber  in  Virginia.  The  identity  of  this  person  has 
not  been  solved. 

There  are  no  records  known  that  any  Germans  were  in  Virginia  at  that 
early  day,  yet  some  of  the  early  records  in  the  Halle  orphanage  seem  to 
indicate  their  presence. 

9  Magister  Johannes  Fabricius,  professor  in  the  University  of  Altdorf, 
tutor  of  Johannes  Kelpius. 


28 


The  Journal  of  Kelpius. 


Elect  of  God,  anno  May  25,  1706,  To  Hester  Pal- 
mer10 in  Long  Island  in  Flushing  (English)    91-101 

These  letters,  as  will  be  seen,  are  somewhat  rhapsodical, 
and  filled  with  obscure  illusions  to  mystical  subjects  and 
scriptural  quotations.  A  vein  of  true  piety,  however,  per- 
vades every  missive,  the  whole  being  an  evidence  of  the 
survival  of  superstition  at  that  late  day,  strangely  mingled 
with  the  observed  facts  of  science. 

10  Hester   Palmer   in    Flushing,   Long    Island.     Identity   not   established. 
Evidently  a  member  of  Steven  Mumford's  congregation. 


Bookplate  of  the  London  Society  for  Propagating  the  Gospel  in 
Foreign  Parts. 


I. 

LETTER  TO  HEINRICH  JOHANN  DEICHMAN, 
LONDON,  ENGLAND. 

Copy  of  a  Letter  from  Pennsylvania  to  London,  to  Mr. 
Heinrich  Johann  Deichman. 

February  24th,   1697. 
Faithful  Fellow  Champion  Deichman! 

«OUR  esteemed  favor  received  with  joy,  and  there  re- 
sounds from  "The  Call  to  Wisdom,"  which  you  en- 
closed, such  an  echo  in  our  spirit,  as  though  wisdom 
herself  had  meant  us.  We  behold  the  harmony  of 
divine  discipline  by  virtue  of  a  sympathetic  agreement 
of  your  centre  with  ours,  and  although  the  radiant  roads 
from  and  to  the  latter,  cross  each  other  in  an  endless  manner,  yet 
with  all  this  diversity,  the  aspect  of  the  upper  huts  of  our  mother, 
manifold  wisdom,  becomes  more  dear  and  joyous.  Therefore  we  are 
not  angry  because  of  your  cross  and  opposition  roads,  just  as  you, 
we  hope,  are  not  angry  with  ours,  because,  indeed,  from  the  stroke 
of  the  cross,  the  bright  colors  of  the  sign  of  peace  must  be  born, 
just  as  Solomon  from  David.  The  radii  of  our  cross  are  directed 
at  present  from  the  centre  exteriorly,  when,  however,  the  Lord  is 
willing  to  unite  these  outward-turned  extremities  of  our  cross  in 
their  central  point,  He  alone  knows,  and  to  Him  alone  this  is  pos- 
sible. Hence  it  is  not  my  intention  to  pen  with  ink  of  our  color, 
the  letters  Y.  L.  (Your  Love),  because  your  love  is  sealed  in  its 
place.  We  only  long  for  the  revelation  in  and  from  out  the  heart 
of  the  love  of  God,  and  the  more  anxiously  we  bear,  the  more 
carefully  the  Lord  hides  us  from  the  dragon,  that  watches  so  care- 
fully for  the  birth,  in  order  to  devour  it. 


30  Letter  to  Heinrich  Johann  Deichman. 

Fight  thou  with  us,  thou  faithful  soul,  and  lead  all  thy  rela- 
tives forth  into  the  same  battle,  and  suffer  no  strange  trumpet  of  a 
prince  operating  through  fame  in  the  air,  to  separate  our  united 
phalanx  under  the  banner  of  the  Lion  and  the  Lamb,  (we  must 
long  for  in  hopeful  patience,  as  later  on,  the  Father  at  times, 
renders  the  waiting  sweet). 

The  Lord  once  said:  We  love  him  rightly,  for  whom  we  can 
wait  a  long  time;  he,  whom  we  love  but  little,  from  him  we  soon 
depart.  The  Lord  hath  also  waited  long  for  us,  ere  we  received 
this  desire,  in  which  blissful,  hoping  waiting,  I  remain  with  cordial 
embrace  in  the  love  of  Jesus 

thine  eternally  united 

J.  Kelpius. 

P.  S.  Most  worthy  brother,  the  longer  I  write,  the  more 
ardent  my  spirit  becometh  in  the  desire  for  the  revelation  of  our 
hope,  because  all  pens  or  quills,  or  even  bodily  cohabitation,  though 
these  modify  the  longing  somewhat,  do  but  little  or  naught  for  the 
cause.  How  often  am  I  in  the  spirit  more  exactly  round  about  you, 
than  I  am  with  those  with  whom  I  corporeally  dwell  in  Kedar. 
Therefore  I  kiss  the  Father's  hand  that  hath  led  me  into  this 
desert  as  into  a  chamber.  For  verily!  had  I  remained  in  London 
with  Mecken  and  Clerk,  we  should  have  done  harm  never  to  be 
told  unto  each  other,  as  I  now  clearly  see,  as  we  love  each  other 
cordially,  and  they  were  loth  to  let  me  go,  hoping  in  spirit  to  con- 
tinue the  work  vigorously.  I  went  with  joy  into  this  desert,  as 
into  a  garden  of  roses,  and  I  knew  not  at  that  time,  that  it  was 
the  furnace  of  affliction  in  which  the  Lord  was  about  to  purify 
and  to  prove  me,  and  now  I  see  it,  since  the  heat  hath  somewhat 
passed  by,  and  I  praise  the  Father,  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  that 
He  willed  such  good  unto  me.  But  enough  hereof!  My  best 
regards  to  Mecken  &  Clerk,  if  they  still  survive,  as  I  hope,  and 
grow  with  us  in  the  same  hope;  it  is  but  for  a  little  while,  as  I 
hope,  and  we  shall  speak  unto  each  other  differently,  far  differently 
than  heretofore,  and  then  shall  no  man  take  our  joy  from  us,  for 
the  faithful  and  true  witness  will  not  suffer  us  to  be  constantly 
in  unrest. 


The  Journal  of  Kelpius. 


31 


I  am  in  no  wise  displeased  with  them,  that  they  were  offended  in 
us  and,  in  a  measure,  delivered  us  unto  death.  We  have,  indeed, 
often  been  brought  near  to  the  gates  of  death,  and  the  coldness  of 
death,  which  David  dreaded  so  much,  is  not  yet  past.  Now  where 
our  loss  has  been  their  salvation  (as  above  indicated)  how  much 
more  will  our  life  be  their  assumption  (proslepsis),  when  the 
Lord  shall  awaken  us  from  the  dead.  We  certainly  had  had 
sufficient  cause,  to  be  offended  in  them ;  if,  however,  this  being  were 
to  continue  in  growth,  where  would  the  accretion  be,  and  the  love 
that  is  founded  upon  forgiveness  from  the  heart,  and  forgiveness 
upon  the  knowledge  of  one's  own  faults,  and  this  knowledge  is 
founded  upon  that  great  humility  which  we  all  lacked  in  spite  of 
our  great  knowledge.  But  the  Lord  knoweth  how  to  humble 
the  proud,  and  how  to  bend  that  which  in  us  is  rigid  by  means  ot 
His  fatherly  cross-blows  with  which  our  ways  are  interwoven.  To 
Him  be  praise,  honor,  power  and  glory  for  ever,  world  without 
end.    Amen. 


An  Ancient  Horoscope  Cast  by  the  Mystics  on  the  Wissahickon. 


II. 

LETTER  TO  HEINRICH  JOHANN  DEICHMAN, 
LONDON,  ENGLAND. 

To  the  Same,  May  12th,  1699,  through  Jan  von  Lewenigh 

(Delivered). 

Faithful  brother  and  fellow  of  the  tribulation,  of  which,  at  this 
time,  all  partake  that  hope  in  patient  and  longing  waiting  for 
the  glorious  appearance  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ. 

3  HEAR  with  special  joy,  how  you  show  in  your  last  let- 
ter, happily  delivered  together  with  a  package  by  Mr. 
Schaeffer,  your  heart  unto  us  as  in  a  mirror,  and  how 
you  permit  us  to  see  in  what  manner  you  are  being 
purified  in  the  furnace  of  the  covenant,  even  so,  that 
you  feel,  that  your  experience  was  not  the  lot  of  the 
children  of  God  for  many  centuries.  Just  as  I  have  made  men- 
tion in  my  first  letter  to  you,  of  similar  experiences  of  ours,  but 
especially  of  mine  own,  concerning  such  as  the  Lord  from  the 
beginning  to  this  hour  uniteth  more  firmly;  but,  afterwards,  for 
upwards  of  a  whole  year,  my  experience  is  such,  that  the  water 
hath  not  only  often  encompassed  my  soul,  as  you  say  of  yourself, 
but  I  have  even  sunk  in  the  deepest  and  bottomless  slough  of 
despond.  So  you,  too,  at  the  beginning  of  that  state,  did  compose 
a  lay  of  woe,  sent  to  me  through  Falkner,  so  that  I  must  con- 
clude, that  the  entire  body  of  Christ  is  now  suffering  on  earth,  nor 
do  I  understand  this  to  be  an  ordinary  suffering,  but  rather  such 
as  extendeth  from  Gethsemane  to  Golgotha;  yea,  what  shall  I  say, 
it  hath  not  yet  come  to  the  ...  branch !  The  worst,  the  thrust 
of  death,  is  still  behind,  when  I  shall  atone  before  no  common 
one  ...  on  the  cross,  or  Jebusite,  as  Herod,  or  mystic  imagina- 

32 


The  Journal  of  Kelp  ins.  33 

tton  and  dreams  (but  I  am  not  speaking)  (will  reveal  the  right 
mystic  way,  which  the  world  did  hide)  but  of  a  real,  where,  essen- 
tially, this  is  done  once  and  for  all  time,  and  from  out  of  which 
a  necessary  transmutation  as  to  body,  soul  and  spirit  resulteth.  I 
have,  indeed,  heard  and  read  much  of  many  that  have  died,  risen, 
ascended,  yea,  descended  with  a  virgin  body,  and  now  filling  there- 
with their  former  body  in  such  a  manner,  that  the  new  covereth 
the  old,  as  hides  or  pelts  cover  the  hut  of  Moses,  etc.,  the  worthi- 
ness of  which  I  do  not  impeach;  yet  sad  experience  hath  hitherto 
taught,  that  most  men,  after  such  advance,  have  not  only  not  out- 
stripped the  others,  but  some  have  been  made  subservient  to  others, 
and  have,  in  part,  become  unlike  themselves  in  a  deterior  altitude. 
The  words  of  Partus  (Plato  ?)  are  clear  indeed,  on  which  my 
faith  is  founded,  that  none  in  this  life  is  preferred  before  another, 
much  less,  that  one  shall  be  the  cause  efficient  of  another's  resur- 
rection. Great  speculations  on  this  subject  are  of  no  avail,  much 
less  availeth  imagination,  which  latter,  with'  those  who  had  some 
true  relations,  was  at  last  regarded  as  such,  or  at  least  blended 
therewith,  though  they  consider  themselves  free  from  all  mixture, 
for  they  do  it,  though  eventual  acts  may  approve  of  speculation, 
and  it  has  been  tried,  bringing  on  many  a  great  fall,  of  which  I 
could  adduce  sufficiently  many  examples,  and  indeed  of  such  who 
in  their  palmy  days  would  not  have  yielded  to  any  one  in  England 
on  account  of  their  inspiration;  but  the  same  are  such  as  by  these 
events  are  compelled  to  hide  themselves  in  their  chambers,  until 
the  wrath  be  completely  past,  before  which  they  were  unwilling, 
at  that  time,  to  stoop,  thinking  themselves,  as  being  perfectly 
cleansed  and  purified,  sufficiently  strong,  until  that  wrath  be  cast 
upon  the  ground.  And  although  such  a  fall,  however  great  it  is 
(see  Psalm  62,  2  Gen.)  might  not  eternally  cast  them  down, 
that  is,  according  to  their  inner  spark  of  faith;  as  long  as  we, 
that  is,  the  simple  and  quiet,  step  most  securely.  He  that  believeth, 
hasteneth  not.  He  that  hath  said,  He  would  come,  will  come  as- 
suredly, and  without  our  running  before;  the  wise  virgins  will  be 
awakened,  all  at  the  same  time,  and  they  go  forth  and  enter,  all 


34  Letter  to  Heinrich  Johann  Deichman. 

at  the  same  time,  into  the  joy  of  their  Lord,  none  of  them  runneth 
before  or  precedeth  another,  and,  therefore,  we  should  not  regard 
the  so  called  preference  in  the  kingdom  of  God,  because  herein 
there  existeth  no  precedence  and  order,  or  emulation,  as  is  the  case 
in  academies  and  at  courts  of  the  world,  but  the  greatest  is  as  the 
least,  and  Christ  sayeth :  "  The  first  shall  be  last,  and  the  last  shall 
be  first."  But  if  any  one  is  of  the  opinion  (I  still  call  it  an 
opinion)  although  he  that  thinketh  so,  regardeth  it  as  his  own 
opinion,  that  is,  he  or  she,  or  he  and  she  at  the  same  time,  the 
masculine  birth  for  the  universal  redemption  of  groaning  crea- 
tion, as  well  as  those  that  have  received  the  firstlings  of  the  Spirit, 
become  God-bearing. 

Now  then,  in  the  name  of  the  Lord,  let  them  step  forth  and 
finish  this  work  so  long  desired,  to  my  bliss  and  joy,  as  well  as  to 
that  of  all  creation,  and  then  we  may  call  it  in  another  opinion. 

But,  worthy  brother,  forgive  me,  if  I  continue  as  an  unbelieving 
Thomas  to  present  to  your  mind  the  example  of  our  dearest  Saviour 
Jesus  and  his  precursor  John,  not  to  speak  of  others,  as  I  only 
represent  a  biga  (two-horse-chariot)  of  eternal  grace,  because,  at 
present  and  heretofore,  men  have  always  been  speaking  of  Z.2 
However  much  these  kept  themselves  hidden  before  their  assump- 
tion of  office,  however  silent  they  were  concerning  their  future,  but 
they  kept  themselves  in  all  things  in  a  virgin  silence  (whereof  in 
the  Old  Testament,  the  virgins  always  remain  at  home,  and  a  going 
out  in  disguise  representeth  something  properly)  until  that  hour 
which  was  destined  for  them  in  the  calendar  of  eternity,  and  then 
she  stepped  forth  not  with  pen  and  ink,  but  in  strength  and  might, 
which  no  foe  could  withstand,  there  you  see  how  very  much  such  a 
biga  of  eternal  grace,  even  for  our  times  and  longer  yet  (availeth?) , 
but  this  excessive  boasting  hereof  in  the  streets  of  Babylon  is  some- 
what suspicious  to  me.  The  cry:  "See  here!"  "See  there!"  not 
to  speak  of  the  idle  personal  applications.  In  a  word,  the  affair 
will  come  to  pass  quite  differently  than  one  or  several  men,  yea, 
even  Jesus  Christ  himself  imagines,  and  though  we  have  revelation 


2  Z  =  possibly  an  astrological  character. 


The  Journal  of  Kelpius.  35 

hereof,  this  revelation  oftentimes  cannot  comprehend  the  spirit  of 
the  instrument,  and  often  falls  upon  a  false  application  of  its  per- 
son, and,  if  this  will  not  do,  it  must  be  called  a  figure;  now,  inas- 
much as  many  have  practiced  carnal  lust  in  faith,  or,  at  least,  have 
brought  about  a  spiritual  mixture.  How  often,  for  pity's  sake, 
have  these  things  happened,  and  still  happen  even  in  such  through 
whom  it  was  hoped,  salvation  should  burst  forth;  and  we  may 
perhaps  not  be  so  much  mistaken  in  the  application,  as  were  the 
two  disciples  that  journeyed  to  Emmaus,  though  we  cannot  demon- 
strate it  to  them,  for  those  unto  whom  we  can  re-monstrate  it,  so 
that  they  may  know  it  themselves  even  without  remonstrations, 
these  also  stand  in  just  as  great  danger  as  the  others,  in  whom  it 
appeared  spiritually  before  God,  but  did  not  come  to  a  bursting 
forth.  As  then  the  mystery  of  the  holy  gospel  (when  children  that 
tie  a  string  about  a  bird's  foot  and  permit  it  to  fly  upward,  and 
the  bird  thinking  its  freedom  attained,  but  the  children  may  pull 
it  down  to  them  at  will)  is  fulfilled,  wherein  the  spirit  of  evil 
permits  them  to  soar  on  high  in  knowledges  and  visions,  caring 
little  about  their  freedom  of  ascension,  if  only  he  can  make  them 
descend  at  will  by  means  of  the  rope  fastened  to  their  feet  and 
incorporated  with  their  earthly  dwelling. 

Dearest  brother!  Unto  your  opened  wound,  oil  may  be  perhaps 
more  agreeable  than  salt  and  pungent  wine?  which  oil  you  would 
fain  choose  and  expect  of  me,  as,  doubtless,  you  are  bruised  and 
dejected  in  mind  sufficiently,  and,  believe  me,  that  I  am  loth  to 
swim  in  this  element,  as  I  would  rather  enjoy  and  gently  glide 
with  my  beloved  on  evening  clouds,  but  I  am  loth  to  storm  with  the 
north  wind  through  the  garden  of  God!  But,  my  faithful  heart, 
when  I  consider  the  dangerous  place  where  you  are  and  in  spirit 
see,  how  some  by  bland  gifts  .  .  .  seek  to  gouge  out  your  eye  and 
to  bind  your  hands,  after  having  shorn  you  of  your  locks  of  liberty, 
I  would  rather  see  you  with  Samson  turning  the  mill-stone  of  ex- 
terior hard  work  (as  we  have  done  and  at  times  still  do,  rather 
than  see  you  basking  in  the  lap  of  your  beloved  spiritual  Delilah.) 

I  dearly  love  F.  L.  and  his  associates,  and  their  writings  have 


36  Letter  to  Heinrich  Johann  Deichman. 

often  strengthened  me  and  raised  me  up,  but  I  wish  from  my  heart, 
we  may  not  see  this  sad  drama  more.  So  I  also  know,  how  those 
dear  souls  Quedlinburg  (whom  I  spiritually  embrace  and  kiss) 
founded  upon  the  corner-stone  of  our  salvation,  have  been  so 
powerfully  edified,  after  having  laid  aside  so  many  rudiments,  and 
I  hope,  they  will  also  discard  the  remaining  superfluities,  and 
hasten  to  the  purpose;  therefore,  I  deem  myself  too  paltry  and 
miserable  to  teach  them  anything,  because  I  am  so  fain  to  see,  that, 
being  rid  of  all  teachers  and  martinets,  we  might  be  taught,  en- 
lightened and  inspired  and  directly  united  with  the  head,  the  only 
high  priest  of  our  salvation,  which,  of  course,  cannot  and  will  not 
be  accomplished  without  previous  dearth,  discipline,  temptation, 
cross  (or  whatever  we  may  call  it,  as  previously  indicated  by  me), 
nor  without  the  final  lunge  of  death,  although  thereafter  nothing 
shall  take  us  captive  and  detain  us;  hence,  we  cannot  but  expect 
the  bursting  forth  of  salvation  from  Jesus  Christ,  in,  from  and 
through  us  all,  because  we  all  are  but  one  body,  and  He,  Jesus  of 
Nazareth,  remaineth  the  glorified  theanthrope,  from  whom  the  life 
of  the  Father  welleth  and  bursteth  forth.  Behold,  dear  brother, 
this  manifest  and  through  His  apostles  manifested  truth  is  not 
unknown  to  you;  inasmuch,  however,  as  we  see  so  many  and 
various  pseudo-saviours  in  the  theatre  of  these  our  revolutions,  it 
were  not  strange,  if  our  countenances  were  somewhat  turned  away 
from  the  only  true  one,  and  if  we  looked  infatuated  upon  another 
guest-brother's  beauty,  yea,  angelic  and  cherub-like  clearness,  and 
thus  forsook  our  truest  and  most  beautiful  bridegroom  amongst 
all,  and  if  we  became  faithless  or  even  adulterous  and  would  thus 
contaminate  our  virgin  garment  or  even  lose  it;  we  recognize,  in- 
deed, among  all  these  forms,  the  proximity  of  salvation,  but  so, 
that  we  may  not  embrace  some  folly  because  of  too  great  ardour 
and  heat  of  desire,  as  some  men  and  women  in  their  too  ardent 
and  passionate  devotions  have  done,  soaring  perhaps  too  high,  and 
then  being  humiliated,  they  took  heed,  as  then  the  danger  is  truly 
and  ineffably  great,  but  not  so  great,  as  when  we  in  spirit  desert 
our  most  true  and  loving  Jesus  for  the  sake  of  others   (though 


The  Journal  of  Kelpius.  37 

they  were  angels),  and  become  mixed  with  them,  as  indicated 
before,  and  you  stand  before  this  matter  in  greater  danger  on 
account  of  various  circumstances  (as  we,  for  the  sake  of  neces- 
sary assistance,  sometimes  do  that  which  we  otherwise  do  not 
approve  of,  as  we  here). 

But  as  our  dear  Mr.  Schirmer,  in  Halle,  is  reported  to  have  said 
to  Mr.  Schaefrer:  'He  would  probably,  find  the  devil  in  Pennsyl- 
vania,' so  we  are  not  ignorant  of  that  which  he  is  thinking  of,  but 
as  Mr.  Lange  (of  Hungary,  if  I  err  not)  said  to  Falkner  & 
Koester:  'Ye  will  also  find  the  dear  Lord  Jesus  in  Pennsylvania'; 
hence  He  standeth  at  our  right  hand  as  a  hero  and  screeneth  us 
from  all  fiery  onslaughts  of  Satan,  and  because  His  pure  wisdom 
hath  upon  her  tongue  both  the  sharp  law  and  the  gentle  grace, 
Prov.  3.  16,  so  we  also  are  strengthened  and  comforted  in  all  things 
and  through  all  things,  as  we  have  experienced  in  ourselves  and  in 
others,  where  we,  from  a  distance,  impartially  observe  the  deeds 
or  the  stumblings  of  every  one  of  your  round-table-companies. 

But  enough  hereof!  If  now,  dear  brother,  you  find  some  as- 
suredness in  your  heart,  to  come  to  us,  do  not  think,  that  my  dear 
Sohlige  by  his  walking  about,  is  aiming  at  you  or  your  congress, 
as  I  am  certain,  you  will  be  drawn  by  quite  a  different  principle 
in  coming  hither,  as  our  dear  Schaefer,  or  others  were,  who  from 
hence  ran  back  again,  hoping  to  teach  the  world  or  even  the  saints. 
For,  how  you  will  fare  here,  we  already  see  in  spirit,  and  I  have 
been  thinking  of  this  before,  hoping  the  salt  would  be  more  agree- 
able to  you,  than  if  I  had  placed  before  you  mere  peace.  Compare 
the  signs  of  the  times  with  each  other  (whereof  you  have  made 
mention  in  your  letter)  and  you  will  easily,  with  Amos,  be  able  to 
make  a  resolution  to  hide  yourself,  which  you,  according  to  our 
opinion  can  do  no  longer,  inasmuch  as  matters  have  progressed 
too  far,  and  your  faith  hardly  reaches  so  far,  that  you  would  be- 
lieve, it  would  rain  manna  into  your  tent  (though  I  cannot  find 
any  thing  in  your  letter  to  justify  your  giving  up  your  present 
engagement  entirely). 

We  cordially  received  Schaefer  and  gave  him  the  choice  among 
3 


38  Letter  to  Heinrich  Johann  Deichman. 

7  or  5  different  places,  among  our  acquaintances  and  friends, 
where  he  might  have  enjoj^ed  his  bread  in  quietude ;  if  he  had  only 
tutored  the  child  of  the  house,  he  might  have,  after  so  many 
wanderings  and  ups  and  downs,  been  able  to  come  to  rest  and 
permit  God  to  prepare  his  soul  and  fix  his  purpose.  But  his  heart 
always  drew  him  to  his  nation:  Swedes,  Finlanders  and  Indians, 
which  3  resemble  each  other  very  much,  in  order  to  do  good  among 
them,  as  he  thinks;  and  he  went  amongst  them,  and  we  parted 
from  each  other  in  love,  as  we  left  the  door  open  for  him,  to  come 
back  to  us,  if  he  should  not  find  among  his  nation  that  which  he 
thought  he  would.  But  when  at  last,  his  soul  shall  be  brought 
to  rest,  the  Lord  alone  knows,  for  he  himself  is  without  method 
to  attain  this  end,  on  the  contrary,  he  is  desirous  of  converting 
and  strengthening  others,  though  he  himself  confesses  he  has  no 
grounds,  and  thus  many  impede  their  own  progress  in  various 
manners,  and  cannot  enter  into  their  rest  because  of  mere  un- 
belief, standing  so  firmly  upon  themselves.  Now,  who  could  think, 
that  our  human  way  could  be  a  wrong  way,  in  so  much  as  to  be 
unwilling  to  turn  therefrom.  God  be  merciful  unto  such  and  unto 
us  all! 

Now,  whatever  you  do,  do  it  in  faith,  that  the  Lord  will  pro- 
vide, and  doubt  thou  not.  Neither  be  thou  afeard  of  the  lions, 
nor  of  the  bears,  nor  of  serpents,  nor  any  animal,  but  step  upon 
their  necks  in  the  power  of  God,  believing  that  they  can  harm  no 
one  but  him  that  is  afeard  of  them.  Now,  if  you  find  the  means 
to  come  hither,  do  not  wait  for  Fox,  but  come  in  thy  strength 
and  faith  which  the  Lord  will  give  you,  lest  Alva,  that  is,  the  talk 
of  an  infidel  move  you  and  untoward  thoughts  seduce  you.  I  seek 
not  to  persuade  you,  and  for  all  the  world  I  would  not  have  your 
faith  founded  on  me,  nor  on  anyone  else,  but  upon  God  alone. 
Do  not  make  too  much  of  this  enterprise,  as  though  you  would 
hereby  evade  Babylon  and  all  temptations,  nor  yet  too  little,  as 
though  this  place  were  not  more  comfortable  for  your  circum- 
stances, to  hide  you  in  your  exile,  than  London  is  and  safety  lies 
in  a  middle  course,  that  is,  in  child-like  simplicity.  If  this  comes 
to  pass,  we  shall,  no  doubt,  receive  more  ample  information  con- 


The  Journal  of  Kelpius.  39 

cerning  many  things,  than  we  have  received  hitherto,  especially 
concerning  Catharina  B.  v.  B.,  whereof  we  knew  not  a  word,  and 
how  greatly  we  mourn  this,  is  ineffable,  so  much  so,  that  our  heart 
would  break;  I  would  rather  have  imagined,  the  sun  would  be  illu- 
mined by  the  moon,  than  that  this  would-be  (as  Maxan  called 
him  after  his  death,  in  consequence  of  which,  he  was  imprisoned 
for  a  whole  year  and  robbed  of  the  presence  of  God,  because  he 
intrusted  this  one  with  several  secrets,  and  as  he  related  to  Hatten- 
bach,  as  is  known)  and  black  magician  could  darken  and  blacken 
this  luminous  sun  (i.  e.  Catharina).  And  he  may  prefer  cutting  a 
figure,  inasmuch  as  his  second  marriage,  or  whoredom,  is  suffi- 
cient proof  and  shows  what  he  was  hankering  after,  namely,  lust 
of  the  flesh,  which  he  could  not  satisfy  in  this  pious  soul,  and  what 
Seelig  writes  hereof,  will,  no  doubt,  become  true.  But  she  may  be 
a  figure  before  the  judgment  of  God,  how  they  began  at  the  house 
of  God,  and  how  God  in  her,  being  the  purest  and  best  soul  I  have 
ever  known,  how  they  did  begin  to  lay  low  in  the  dust  all  that 
which  is  sublime  in  the  eyes  of  men.  And  it  may  possibly  be,  that 
she,  on  account  of  her  rare  gifts  and  special  virtues  (as  then  Jesus 
Christ,  himself  but  a  child,  did  distinguish  her,  though  in  outward 
splendor  and  knowledge  of  many  things  she  had  advanced  consider- 
ably, whereof  no  one  should  boast,  but  rather  fear).  She  was  idol- 
ized by  many  and  may  have  delighted  therein,  wherefore  the  Lord 
did  abash  her  and  caused  her  to  be  clothed  in  sack-cloth  or  goat 
skin,  that  she  might  forget  her  excessive  wanderings,  and  hide  her- 
self from  the  knowledge  of  men.  Then  many  a  great  saint  will  in 
secret  rejoice,  thinking  himself  to  become  great  through  her  fall, 
and  to  make  himself  esteemed  by  judging  and  condemning  her, 
just  as  he  seeth  and  toucheth  her  exterior,  rough  sack  in  which  the 
Lord  hideth  her,  so  he  manifesteth  hereby  his  internal,  thorny  and 
black  nature  which  erstwhile  had  remained  hidden  under  a  radiant 
sheep  skin.  Who  knows  how  shortly  others  may  be  abashed,  who 
think  not  only  to  be  standing  alone,  but  also  to  become  foundation- 
pillars  to  support  the  entire  superstructure,  yea  to  be  such  pillars 
already. 

O  blessed  lowliness!     HowT  many  fickle  spirits  flit  above  thee, 


40  Letter  to  Heinrich  Johann  Deichman. 

whilst  Jesus  was  so  lowly  and,  in  all  things,  like  unto  His  brethren, 
yea,  even  more  lowly  than  they;  and  I  should  like  to  know,  how 
Dr.  Schmidberg  and  others  welcomed  her,  when  she  returned. 
The  poor  child,  no  doubt  must  have  been  compelled  to  run  the 
gauntlet  and  to  sing  from  the  Song  of  Songs:  Look  not  upon  me 
because  I  am  black,  because  the  sun  hath  looked  upon  me:  my 
mother's  children  were  angry  with  me;  they  made  me  the  keeper 
of  the  vineyards;  but  mine  own  vineyard  have  I  not  kept.  It  may 
have  been  a  special  providence,  that  I  did  not  receive  her  letter 
at  that  time,  for  all  things  must  arrive  at  their  appointed  time. 
Still,  I  should  like  to  know  what  therein  was.  But  if  it  had  for  its 
author  .  .  .  ,  I  can  easily  imagine  what  it  contained.  Write  thou 
to  her,  prithee,  with  my  cordial  greetings,  and  though  I  should  like 
to  chat  with  her  for  an  hour,  to  bring  to  her  heart  several  things, 
what  the  Lord  hath  done  by  us  both,  yet  I  would  not  allure  her 
forth  from  her  rest  and  quietude.  I  doubt  not  but  the  Lord  will 
bless  her  in  time,  in  that  He  hath  through  her  blessed  so  many; 
and  because  she,  too,  is  as  His  sheep  in  His  hand,  so  neither  that 
.  .  .  nor  any  other  man  will  be  able  to  snatch  her  from  out  His 
hand.    Amen. 

What  we  as  brethren  have  written,  you  may  communicate  at  the 
same  time  (because  the  one  explaineth  the  other)  without  fear  and 
reserve.  For  although  I  have  touched  upon  several  particulars  and 
have  written  rather  frankly  (but  Seelig  has  remained  in  general 
topics)  I  have  no  doubt  but  that  all  honest  and  upright  disciples  in 
Christ  according  to  His  doctrine,  will  readily  assimilate  the  salt, 
though  it  disgusteth  those  who  wantonly  would  remain  effeminate 
weaklings.  But  do  not  omit  corresponding  very  frequently  with 
us,  because  herein  I  perceive  the  special  hand  of  God,  therefore  I 
have  also  procured  for  you  a  good  address,  as  you  may  see  from 
what  I  have  enclosed,  the  which  you  are  to  hand  to  W.  S.  Send 
us  the  acts  with  diligence,  in  that  our  friends  crave  for  them  and, 
if  possible,  something  of  Portage,  who  is  entirely  unknown  to  us. 
We  had  written  about  one  or  two  pages ;  now  if  these  be  addressed 
to  H.  B.  in  care  of  this  merchant  W.  S.,  they  will  reach  their 
destiny  in  security. 


The  Journal  of  Kclpius. 


4' 


Now,  if  ever  you  come  to  us,  all  things  shall  be  made  good. 
Please  to  give  my  kindest  regards  to  Mecken  and  inform  him  of 
the  fact,  that  I  am  not  at  all  afeard  of  his  letter,  inasmuch  as  I 
have  become  so  hardened  in  this  desert,  that  I  can  possibly  endure 
corporeal  punishment,  though  undeserved.  May  the  Lord  alone 
strengthen  us  through  an  extraordinary  power  (for  such  is  ours  in 
these  days)  that  we  may  reward  the  word  of  His  patience,  until 
that  He  come.     Yes,  come,  Lord  Jesus.     Amen.     Hallelujah. 

Yours,  J.  K. 


Symbol  of  the  Mystical  Ephrata   Community  on  the   Cocalico, 
Lancaster  County,  Penna. 


III. 

LETTER  FROM  JOHANN  SELIG 
TO  H.  J.  DEICHMAN,  LONDON,  ENGLAND. 

Copy  of  the  Letter  which  Johann  Seelig  to  the  Same 
with  This  Did  Send. 

Dearly  beloved  Brother  in  the  Lord: — 

«OUR  letter  has  partly  comforted,  partly  grieved,  and 
yet  again  encouraged  us,  in  that  the  Lord  in  one  and 
the  same  spirit  (unto  as  many  of  us  as  stand  in  one 
spirit  of  the  pure  knowledge  of  His  wondrous  judg- 
ments) hath  given  us  to  perceive,  whither  such  ap- 
parent calamities  at  this  time  are  aimed  and  directed, 
the  which  is  lost  sight  of  by  magicians,  but  is  brought  home  unto 
them  assuredly  in  divine  power  from  the  simple  ground  of  faith- 
magic,  to  the  consternation  of  the  whole  world,  for  whereby  that 
adept  in  the  black  art  though  he  could  soar  aloft  and  crush  his  op- 
ponent, even  thereby  he  may  be  brought  down,  whilst  his  opponent 
riseth  in  divine  power.  Behold,  how  the  principal  person  is  already 
acting  in  the  final  destruction  of  the  world  through  his  false — morn- 
ing star  or  harbinger !  Through  this  their  confusion,  there  is  insti- 
tuted from  the  simple  and  childlike  ground  of  faith,  the  true  love- 
feast  or  supper  of  the  marriage  of  the  Lamb  (thus  Apocalypse  19 
should  have  been  rendered  in  our  German  Bible).  As  no  mention  is 
made  of  this  supper  by  the  church  and  the  reformation  Baals  up  to 
this  time,  as  a  witness  against  them,  that  they  do  not  belong  to  the 
blessed  that  are  called  thereunto,  until  after  holding  such  a  love- 
feast,  the  King  himself  in  person  appeareth,  and  the  afore-men- 
tioned person  who  will  then  also  appear,  and  bear  in  his  flesh  the 

42 


The  Journal  of  Kelpius.  43 

centre  of  the  magic  ground  of  the  dark  world,  bringing  it  to  a 
close. 

My  dear  little  brother,  \vc,  indeed,  had  many  things  to  speak  of 
and  to  write  of,  but  how  is  it  possible,  that  the  above  imperishable 
soul-spark  wedded  unto  the  light  of  its  sophic  bride,  should  be  able 
to  manifest  itself  properly  through  these  awkward,  unpropor- 
tioned  organs  of  our  present  miserable  body,  wherein  the  same  lies 
captive  besides?  Nothing  is  pleasing  to  the  sight  of  this  spark, 
not  even  the  most  beautiful  colors  of  our  aurora,  because  such  are 
not  the  fixed  body,  though  veritable  signs  of  the  same.  Therefore, 
we  especially  labor  and  cry  with  our  beloved  to  God  our  Father, 
Psalm  63 :  O  God,  thou  art  my  God ;  early  will  I  seek  thee :  my 
soul  thirsteth  for  thee,  my  flesh  longeth  for  thee  in  a  dry  and 
thirsty  land,  where  no  water  is.  And  how  often  doth  my  flesh 
yearn  thus!  The  flesh  of  Christ  in  us  longeth  to  come  out  of  the 
pathless  desert  and  dry  flesh  of  this  body  to  the  upper  hut  of  the 
body  that  is  not  fashioned  with  hands  from  the  waters  above.  Yet 
the  beloved  desireth,  in  no  other  manner  than  through  divine 
birth-right,  to  sit  in  the  spoiled  lap  of  his  bride,  passing  from 
such  dryness  and  pathless  desert  and  saying,  that  I  may  be  seen 
thus  in  thy  holy  doing. 

Therefore,  let  us  be  unanimous,  nor  let  us  tear  off  the  swaddling- 
clothes  of  the  discipline  of  our  Father,  as  naughty  children  do,  that 
afterward  were  bound  with  ropes;  but  nowadays  many  children 
are  neither  swathed  nor  bound,  therefore  filling  the  vessel  too 
heavily,  and,  in  turn,  it  is  meted  out  unto  them  heavily.  O  blessed 
bond  wherewith  Paul  was  bound,  when  he  writeth  of  himself:  "  I 
in  spirit  bound !  "  considering  that  some  are  unwilling  to  see  the 
mystery  of  this  binding  in  spirit,  or  unwilling  to  resign  themselves 
thereunto.  Hence  there  ariseth:  1.  a  restless  running  about  from 
place  to  place  without  use  and  fruit  of  edification,  either  of  one's 
self  or  of  another;  2.  a  life  according  to  one's  own  advice,  caring 
little  for  that  which  one's  neighbor  giveth  in  love  and  faith,  but 
.  .  .  Of  God  and  His  Spirit;  3.  all  manner  of  fickle  imagination 
concerning  one's  self  and  one's  deeds  to  which  we  were  called  in 


44  Johann  Selig  to  H.  J.  Deichman. 

the  world  or  in  the  church,  as  one  imagines ;  4.  spiritual  luxuriance 
or  lewdness  according  to  the  word  of  the  prophet,  Old  Testament, 
consisting  in  a  constant  desire  of  devotion  in  our  own  circle  and 
also  in  behalf  of  others,  breaking  thereby  the  faith-link  of  Peter, 
namely:  abstinence  2  Feb.  45.  6,  especially  at  this  time,  when  the 
impure,  astral  Venus  desires  to  run  constantly  parallel  to  and  act 
equally  with  our  true  philadelphian  spirits  of  love,  which  are  the 
essential  body  of  heavenly  wisdom,  against  which  there  is  no  better 
remedy  than  the  drawing  rope  and  that  which  the  Lord,  through 
the  raisin,  so  truly  testifieth  at  the  last:  Put  on  a  rough  coat  and 
hide  thyself,  so  that  no  one  may  know  thee.  That  which  is  written 
in  confirmation  of  this,  Ep.  34  and  Psalm  XLXX,  is  of  impor- 
tance; 5.  there  ariseth  a  foolish  nuisance,  in  that  we  cannot  accom- 
modate ourselves  to  the  varying  forms  of  Saul,  where  the  Lord  put 
on  his  cloth  in  distinct  manners,  but  we  think  an  impure  spirit  is 
making  his  abode  therein.  Now,  as  that  one  doth  not  fly  into  a 
passion,  but  understandeth  well,  why  the  Lord  hath,  for  a  time, 
hidden  them,  not  only  from  men,  but  also  from  one  another.  (Yea, 
also  from  one's  self  in  kind,  as  David  prayeth  therefor,  2.  Sam.  22. 
LXX.  Lord  redeem  or  save  from  myself:  (these  words,  I  have 
added)  ;  6.  such  unbridled  liberty  easily  leadeth  into  a  barren  .  .  . 
temptation;  as  such  an  one  often  thinketh  himself  in  the  midst  of 
hell,  and  almost  immediately  thereafter  he  declares  he  is  in  heaven, 
by  which  declaration,  the  ignorant  are  dazzled,  as  being  beyond  the 
true  bounds  of  the  process  of  Christ  (in  which  something  may 
come  to  pass  which  has  a  similarity,  just  as  the  astral  Venus  with 
the  sophistic,  which  is  but  an  astral  motion,  whereby  the  sensate 
elementary  part,  which  lies  below,  just  as  the  earth  beneath  the 
stars,  is  thus  affected).  In  this  connection  men  have  indulged  in 
another  folly  arising  in  them  from  ignorance,  in  that  they  con- 
stantly look  at  the  accidents  that  may  strike  their  exterior  part,  and 
are  blind  to  the  danger  therein,  especially  at  this  time,  soul  .  .  . 
may.  For  then  they  consider  themselves  well  secured  and  to  have 
done  almost  everything,  if  they  are  exact  in  matters  of  external 
clothing,  eating  and  drinking,  in  business  and  in  their  form  of 
outward  devotion,  and  hence  they  enjoy  quietude,  but  they  are 


The  Journal  of  Kclp'uis.  45 

unwilling  to  comprehend  aught  of  the  firmament  of  the  astral 
principle,  where  the  need  is  greatest,  nor  will  they  suffer  being 
told  that  such  disturbs  their  devotion;  7.  there  finally  ariseth  the 
great  evil,  namely,  the  aforementioned  abode  of  Satan,  wherein  we 
are  confirmed  in  error  and  work  disgrace  upon  disgrace.  May  our 
faithful  God  and  Father  of  our  Saviour  grant  that  none  of  His  be 
brought  so  low,  but  may  He  deliver  them  from  the  tribulation  in 
the  7th,  that  they  may  not  be  united  with  the  evil  one. 

My  dear  little  brother,  pardon  my  prolixity,  I  am  not  seeking  to 
instruct  thee,  perhaps  thou'rt  more  learned  and  stronger  than  I 
am.  I  am  only  trying  to  roll  a  part  of  my  burden  upon  thy 
shoulders,  hoping  thou  wilt  help  me  bear  it.  What  shall  I  say, 
when  I  think  of  the  merciful,  dear  heart  of  God  our  Father  who 
hath,  for  these  many  years  in  this  desert,  preserved  several  of  us, 
especially  me  and  dear  brother  Kelpius,  from  the  arrows  of  destruc- 
tion. What  shall  I  say,  when  I  think  of  the  powerful  eagle  wings, 
upon  which  His  providence  hath  lifted  us  poor  worms,  and  borne 
us  and  conducted  us  wonderfully.  My  heart  is  melting  away  in 
tears  and  will  not  suffer  me  to  pursue  the  thought,  nor  can  this  be, 
for  it  still  lieth  in  mysterious  wisdom,  as  a  child  in  the  womb 
hidden,  and,  in  season  due,  its  joy  shall  be  made  manifest. 

My  bodily  health  is  rather  poor;  do  not  be  too  obscure  in  your 
letter,  but  open  your  heart  unto  us,  as  well  as  you  may  and  just 
as  the  Lord  permitteth,  especially  in  regard  to  C.  Reecken  and 
others. 

The  religions  here  are  in  constant  opposition,  nor  is  this  at  all 
surprising,  for  they  are  the  Jordan,  of  whose  roaring  waves  and 
cataracts  David  in  his  exile  in  the  desert,  Psalm  42,  singeth,  which 
will  endure  until  that  Joshua  and  Elijah  come  and  divide  the  river 
which  is  rightly  called  Jordan,  that  is,  a  division  and  ejection  of 
judgment  into  victory,  whence  another  Jordan  will  arise,  that  is, 
the  doctrine  of  the  judgment,  which  will  flow  in  loveliness,  for  in 
the  significance,  as  a  figure  of  the  cross  of  wisdom,  is  contained  in 
the  near  Jordan.    Greetings,  etc.,  etc. 

P.  S.  to  my  letter.  On  perusing  this  letter,  I  was  amazed  at 
myself,  regarding  with  wonderment:  1.  the  long,  2.  the  prickly,  3. 


46  Johann  Selig  to  H.  J.  Deichman. 

the  rough  sack  in  which  I  was  clad  while  writing,  having  resolved 
to  write  something  totally  different,  but  my  spirit  was  broken, 
and  my  heart  directed  elsewhither,  and  my  mind  was  led  in  bonds, 
whither  it  would  not ;  I  was  fain  to  retain  the  letter,  were  I  not  as 
yet  bound.  I,  therefore,  resign  the  matter  wholly  to  the  merciful 
Father  of  our  Saviour  Jesus  Christ,  who  knoweth  why  this  had 
to  be  thus,  though  I,  for  the  most  part,  know  not,  yet  recognize  this 
fact,  especially  as  to  persons,  thinking  of  so  many  personalities. 

My  heart  would  fain  melt  away  in  tears  of  blood,  both  when 
I  consider  the  tribulations  to  come,  and  also  for  gratitude  and  joy, 
when  I  think  of  the  salvation,  how  His  fatherly  hand  hath  already 
saved  us  from  so  many  snares  of  the  hunter,  and  poured  His  bless- 
ings upon  us.  This  again  awakens  the  slumbering  hopes,  so  that  I 
commend  all  things  unto  the  Lord  with  a  believing  heart,  for  He 
will  do  all  things  well. 

Farewell. 


Seal  of  the  Sisterhood  of  Saron  on  the  Cocalico  (from  Ancient 
Ephrata  Document). 


IV. 

LETTER  TO  STEVEN  MOMFORT  IN   RHODE 

ISLAND. 

To  Mr.  Steven  Momfort  in  Long  Island1  in  America. 

1699,  11.  December. 
Dear  Friend  and  Brother: 

j^^^^N  fellow-fighting  in  that  Free  and  Royal  Spirit  which 
dm       strives  for  the  Prize  of  the  first  Resurrection  when  in 
0M  this  Midnight  the  Cry  of  the  Bridegroom's  coming 

jB  I  is  sounded  forth  among  the  Virgin  waiters  for  the 
0^^J  Preparation  of  the  Temple  Body,  wherein  the  King  of 
Glory  and  Father  of  the  coming  Eternity  is  to  enter. 
Your  great  desire  for  to  be  a  little  further  informed  of  the  Principles 
and  Practizes  of  those  People  that  go  under  the  Name  of  Pietists, 
what  they  hold  as  Doctrin  differing  from  others,  what  their  Disci- 
pline is  and  what  Methods  they  use  in  their  own  Country;  this  desire 
I  will  hope,  doth  not  arise  from  the  Root  of  that  Athenian  Curiosity 
to  hear  some  new  thing;  But  rather  you  being  one  among  thousands 
in  Juda,  who  sees  how  since  that  glorious  Primitive  Church  of  Christ 
Jesus  the  Apostacy  hath  run  in  a  continual  current  till  this  very 
day,  and  though  this  Stream  hath  divided  itself  in  many  smaller 
Rivulets,  under  several  Names  of  more  reformed  Purity,  yet  you 
are  not  ignorant  how  they  derive  their  Emanation  from  one  Spring 
and  tend  to  the  same  end,  Viz.  that  the  Woman  in  the  Wilderness 
might  be  carried  away  by  the  Flood.  Therefore  you,  as  a  Remnant 
of  her  seed,  long  for  to  see  your  Mother  and  groan  for  the  Manifes- 
tation of  her  children.  No  wonder  then,  if  your  continual  Gazing 
upon  this  Supercaelestial  Orb  and  Sphier  from  whence  with  her 


1  Should  be  Rhode  Island. 

47 


48  Letter  to  Steven  Momfort. 

Children,  causeth  you  to  observe  every  new  Phoenomena,  Meteors, 
Stars  and  various  Colours  of  the  Skei,  if  peradventure  you  may  be- 
hold at  last  an  Harbinger  as  an  Evidence  of  that  great  Jubelee  or 
Restitation  of  all  things  and  glorious  Sabbathismos  or  the  continual 
days  of  Rest  without  intervening  or  succeeding  Nights,  whereof 
God  hath  spoken  by  the  mouth  of  all  his  Prophets  since  the  world 
began  (Acts  3,  21)  and  whereof  both  the  Testaments  prophesie  in 
every  Title  and  Iota.  If  now  this  late  Revolution  in  Europe  (not 
to  speak  of  that  in  other  parts)  which  in  the  Roman  Church  goes 
under  the  Name  of  Quietism,  in  the  Protestant  Church  under  the 
Name  of  Pietism,  Chiliasm,  and  Philadelphianism,  If  I  say  this 
together  or  one  in  Special  purtends  any  thing  to  this  effect.  I  do 
not  question,  but  it  will  be  your  as  well  as  my  desire,  who  would 
re  Joyce  not  only  to  give  you  full  satisfaction  as  to  this,  but  to  see 
with  you,  yet  in  our  days,  that  happy  day,  which  when  its  new 
Earth  swallows  all  that  forementioned  Floud  and  where  its  glorious 
Sun  causeth  all  other  Stars  and  Phoenomena  to  disappear,  no  Night 
succeeds  it,  but  that  the  Night  is  swallowed  up  in  ye  Day,  Dark- 
ness into  Light,  Death  into  Life,  Judgment  into  Victory,  Justice 
into  Mercy,  all  imperfect  Metals  into  Gold,  and  Gold  itself  is 
refined  seven  times,  and  all  Churches  and  Virgins  comprised  into 
the  one  Dove  (Cant.  6,  9),  then  all  the  Sons  of  God  will  shout 
for  joy  as  they  did  in  the  Beginning,  when  God  was  all  in  all,  as  he 
will  be  all  in  all,  when  again  the  End  hath  found  its  Beginning. 
Amen !     Halleluiah ! 

Dear  and  worthy  friend,  though  unknown  to  the  Flesh  but 
known  in  that  better,  yea  in  the  best  Line  and  highest  descent  in 
the  Life  of  our  Immanuel,  whose  day  we  rejoyce  to  hear  of  and 
more  to  see,  as  well  within  us  as  without  us,  in  its  Depth,  Hight, 
Breadth  and  Length,  through  the  whole  palsed  and  groaning  Cre- 
ation, as  well  as  in  our  Mother  Jerusalem  above  and  Beneath! 
How  can  I  write  the  particulars  of  the  Quietists,  Chiliasts  or 
Philadelphians,  whose  Fame  is  spread  in  all  the  4  quarters  of  the 
now  Christianity.  They  first  sprang  in  Italy,  in  Rome  itself  (and 
are  increased  now  through  the  whole  Roman  Church  in  many 


The  Journal  of  Kelpius.  49 

Millions,  though  they  was  and  are  still  depressed)  15  or  20  years 
before  the  Pietists  or  Chiliasts  in  Germany  and  Switzerland  (where 
the  first  Reformation)  in  the  year  '89  and  '90,  with  a  swift  increase 
through  the  whole  Nation,  so  that  their  Branches  also  did  break 
forth  into  other  Nations,  as  in  England  under  the  name  of  Phila- 
delphians.  This  Penn  is  too  dull  to  express  the  extraordinary 
Power  the  Pietists  and  Chiliasts  among  the  Protestants  in  Germany 
(and  especially  in  Saxony)  and  Switzerland  was  endued  with  in 
their  Infancy.  This  only  I  say,  as  one  who  hath  read  the  Histories, 
that  since  the  days  of  the  Apostels,  such  Miraculous  Powers  and 
operations  have  not  been  manifested  as  in  a  matter  of  3^  years 
among  these.  And  like  as  the  Miracles  wrought  by  God  through 
the  Hand  of  Moyses  was  for  the  main  part  in  the  outward  Crea- 
tion or  Macrocosm,  the  Miracles  of  Jesus  the  Messia  on  the  Bodys 
of  Man  or  Microcosm,  so  these  in  our  days  was  wrought  (much 
like  unto  them  in  the  days  of  the  Apostles)  on  the  Soul  and  more 
interiour  parts  by  Ectases,  Revelations,  Inspirations,  Illuminations, 
Inspeakings,  Prophesies,  Apparitions,  Changings  of  Minds,  Trans- 
figurations, Translations  of  their  Bodys,  wonderful  Fastings  for  11, 
14,  27,  37  days,  Paradysical  Representations  by  Voices,  Melodies, 
and  Sensations  to  the  very  perceptibility  of  the  Spectators  who  was 
about  such  persons,  whose  condition  as  to  the  inward  condition  of 
their  Souls,  as  well  as  their  outward  Transactions,  yea  their  very 
thoughts  they  could  tell  during  the  time  of  their  Exstacies,  though 
they  had  never  seen  nor  heard  of  the  Persons  before. 

These  and  many  other  Gifts  continued  as  is  said,  for  a  matter  of 
three  years  and  a  half  among  all  sorts  of  Persons,  Noble,  and 
ignoble,  Learned  and  unlearned,  Male  and  female,  young  and  old, 
very  conspiciously  and  generally  Protestants  chiefly,  and  some  Pa- 
pists, and  with  some  though  more  refined  such  and  like  Gifts  last 
till  this  very  day. 

Thus  partly  I  have  declared  how  they  was  baptized  with  such 
energical  drops  out  of  that  supercaelestial  Pillar  of  Cloud  by  Gifts 
and  miraculous  Manifestations  of  the  Powers  from  on  high. 

Now  will  I  tell  in  short  in  what  a  craggy,  uneven  yea  dark 


50  Letter  to  Steven  Momfort. 

wilderness  they  have  been  led  since,  when  hitherto  they  have  been 
baptized  with  the  fiery  Pillar  of  many  inward  and  outward  Tribu- 
lations, Sorrows,  Temptations,  Refinings,  Purifications  (but  never- 
theless this  Fiere  casts  such  a  Light  befor'm  that  securs'm  from 
the  persuing  Might  and  dark  influence  of  Egypt  and  guides'm  in 
that  beloved  land  and  City.)  This  must  be  through  many  Tribu- 
lations as  the  Apostels  have  witnessed,  so  they  felt  it  and  feel  it  still 
very  smartly.  For  when  these  things  begun  to  ferment  every  where, 
I.  The  Students  in  the  Universities  forsake  their  former  way  of 
Learning  and  applied  themselves  wholly  to  Piety  and  Godliness, 
(from  whence  their  name  was  derived)  leaving  and  some  burning 
their  heathenish  Logiks,  Rhetoriks,  Metaphysiks.  2.  The  Laymen 
or  Auditors  begun  to  find  fault  with  the  Sermons  and  Lifes  of 
their  Ministers,  seeing  there  was  nothing  of  Ye  Power  of  the  Holy 
Ghost,  nor  of  the  Life  of  Christ  and  his  Apostels.  3.  The  children 
under  the  Information  and  Tuition  of  Pietists,  (for  the  Students 
applied  themselves  chiefly  to  the  Education  of  Children,  as  they 
do  till  this  day  with  great,  yea  extraordinary  success)  begun  to 
reproof  their  Parents  if  they  was  working  an  Lye  or  unrighteous- 
ness !  yea  some  in  their  tender  years  came  to  witness  strange  things 
of  the  Invisible  worlds.  Till  at  last  Demetrius  with  his  Craftsmen 
begun  to  see  and  hear  that  not  only  in  Lipzig,  (from  which  Uni- 
versity this  Motion  first  begun  to  spread  abroad)  but  almost 
throughout  all  Germany  and  adjacent  Contrys  these  Pietists  did 
persuade  and  turn  away  much  People,  saying  that  the  Form  of 
Godliness  without  the  Power  thereof  is  meer  Idolatry  and  super- 
stition; Yea  they  saw,  how  that  not  only  this  their  craft  was  en- 
dangered by  these  and  set  at  nought,  but  also  the  Temple  or  Uni- 
versities of  the  great  Goddess  Dianoria  or  Reason  and  Ratiocina- 
tion (which  is  quite  different  from  that  Dionoria  or  Understand- 
ing or  Unction  whereof  John  witnesses  ijoh.  5.  19.  c.  2,  27.) 
should  be  despised  and  her  Magnificence  (thus  the  Rectors  in  the 
Universities  are  titled)  should  be  destroyed,  if  in  the  place  of 
Dianoria,  the  Sophia  from  on  high  should  be  adored  and  instead  of 


The  Journal  of  Kelpius.  51 

Temples  or  Universities,  the  Hearts  of  men  should  be  consecrated. 
(Excuse  me,  dear  Heart,  that  I  thus  run  into  an  Allcgoricall 
Application,  for  the  very  same  Comedy  was  played  as  you  read  in 
the  Acts  of  the  Apostels,  only  the  time  and  persons  changed.) 
Thus  the  Battel  and  Insurrection  begun,  which  lasteth  till  this  day. 
The  Anti-Pietists  (so  their  Adversaries  are  pleased  to  call  them- 
selves) betook  themselves  to  the  secular  Arm.  But  several  Princes 
being  partly  inclined  to  the  Principles  of  the  Pietists,  partly  con- 
vinced of  a  superior  Agent  in  these  things,  took  them  in  their  Pro- 
tection, especially  the  Elector  of  Brandeb.  In  the  Principality  of 
Brunswick  and  Lunebourg,  the  course  was  otherwise,  for  in  the 
very  beginning  3  Bishops  or  Supirts  was  removed  their  offices;  the 
same  happened  in  other  Countries  and  Cities,  as  Erford,  Lipzik, 
Quedlinbourg,  Halberstad,  Hambourg,  Hassen  Cassel,  where  and 
in  Switzerland  lately  several  Ministers  are  removed  and  some  ban- 
ished the  Country.  Thus  they  increased  under  the  Cross.  As  for 
any  peculiar  Badge  or  Mark,  they  have  none  being  above  these 
trifling  affections)  or  any  peculiar  Church  Ceremony  or  Discipline 
which  should  cause  a  Shism  or  branch  a  new  sect.  For  they  are  not 
ignorant  of  the  wilderness  wTherein  the  Church  is  and  hath  been 
hitherto,  and  in  what  a  glory  she  will  appear  when  she  comes  up 
from  the  Wilderness  leaning  on  her  beloved.  Cant.  8.  5.  They 
see  well  enough  how  all  the  Reformations  and  Revolutions  in  this 
last  Age  as  well  as  theirs  are  but  Apparitions  of  the  fair  colours  of 
the  Aurora  or  Break  of  the  day,  mixed  with  many  uncleanness 
wherein  there  is  no  stay  (as  my  beloved  Brother  and  faithful  Fel- 
low-Pilgrim in  this  Wilderness  state  Seelig  hath  written)  for  they 
are  not  the  substance  or  sun  itself  though  the  various  beautiful 
Apparitions  of  the  Skie,  should  entice  one  allmost  enamoured  in 
them  and  to  mistake  the  Harbinger  for  the  King!  whom  to  meet 
they  prepare  themselves  earnestly,  some  of  'm  laying  aside  all  other 
engagements  whatever,  trimming  their  Lamps  and  adorning  them- 
selves with  white  silky  Holiness  and  golden  Righteousness,  that  they 
may  be  found  worthy,  when  the  Bridegroom  comes,  to  receive  him 


52 


Letter  to  Steven  Mom  fort. 


with  confidence  and  joy  and  to  bring  him  in  the  House  of  their 
Mother,  where  He  will  drink  with'm  that  new  spicy  wine  of  the 
Kingdom  in  all  everlasting  Progresses.  That  we  also  may  prepare 
ourselves  with  our  whole  endeavours  continually  I  wish  heartily, 
who  do  recommend  you  in  the  Clifts  of  the  FoundationRock  of 
our  Salvation,  Jesus  Christ.  Remaining  your  fellow  Traveller  in 
this  blessed  work  and  best  engagement. 

Johannes  Kelpius. 
Dated  in  the  Wilderness. 


Ancient  Astrological  Chart,  as  Cast  by  the  Early  Mystics  on  the 
Wissahickon. 


THE    PENNSYLVANIA-GERMAN    SOCIETY. 


ERICUS    TOBIAS    BIORCK. 

PASTOR    OF   THE    SWEDISH    LUTHERAN    CHURCH    AT    CHRISTIANA    (WILMINGTON,   DEL.). 

PHOTOGRAPH   FROM   ORIGINAL  CANVAS  IN   SWEDEN. 


LETTER  TO  REV.  ERIC  BIORCK,  CHRISTIANA 
(WILMINGTON),  DELAWARE. 

(Translation) 

To  Rev.  Magister  Eric  Biorck, 
Pastor  at  Christianna. 

Immanuel. 

May  Jehovah  remember  thee,  that  thou  mayest  see  the  good 
things  of  his  elect ;  may  he  remember  thee  for  the  sake  of  his  favor 
toward  his  people,  that  thou  mayest  rejoice  in  the  joy  of  his  nation. 
May  he  visit  in  his  salvation,  that  thou  mayest  glory  in  his  in- 
heritance.    Amen ! 

Psalm  cvi.  45. 

Very  reverend  Sir  and  Friend,  Master  and  friend  in  Jesus  our 
Saviour,  ever  to  be  regarded  by  me  with  fraternal  love ; 

In  your  beloved  letter,  written  on  January  10,  and  received  on 

January  17,  through  Mr.  Jonas  B ,  I  got  a  twofold  proof  of 

your  fraternal  love,  the  epistle  and  the  money.  Would  to  God  I 
were  truly  such  as  you  have  outlined,  or  such  as  you  have  judged 
me  with  my  most  beloved  Rudman.  By  day  and  by  night  I  attend, 
indeed,  that  I  may  cleanse  myself  from  every  blemish  both  of  body 
and  of  soul,  and  I  perform  my  rites  in  the  fear  of  the  Lord,  and 
that  I  may  obtain,  by  grace  alone  that  which  is  my  pattern  by 
nature,  through  sincere  imitation  of  him ;  to  wit,  the  adoption  as  a 
son,  the  redemption  of  our  body  (Rom.  viii,  23.  Compare  1  John 
iii,  1-2;  Phil.  Hi,  11-15;  Gal.  iv,  5;  Apoc.  xix,  8;  2  Tim.  iv,  8) 
How  many  parasangs  as  yet  I  may  be  distant  from  the  scope  (aim) 
prefixed  for  myself,  becometh  known  to  the  fellow-soldiers  (Asso- 

4  53 


54  Letter  to  Rev.  Eric  Biorck. 


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i&uwnifo  J*nJ*Jv»  **U*h/tJl  yir4^r*<tM4hiZrj&£s? 

Facsimile  of  Kelpius'  Letter  to  Rev.   Ericus  Biork. 


The  Journal  of  Kelpius.  55 

dates)  of  those  crucified  and  buried  with  (in)  Christ  (Gal.  ii,  20,) 
and  whom  God,  rich  in  mercy  through  Christ,  kept  secret  (in  si- 
lence) and  awakened  and  placed  in  the  heavenly  (places)  in  Christ 
Jesus  (Eph.  i,  20).  Better  than  myself  no  one  knows  (my  short- 
comings) save  alone  the  searcher  of  hearts  and  minds;  for  that 
which  our  beloved  Rudman  bore  witness  concerning  me,  is  to  be 
attributed  rather  to  himself  (Rudman)  and  to  divine  charity,  where- 
withal his  heart  was  affected;  these  things  also,  Paul  being  a  wit- 
ness (1  Cor.,  xiii).  He  endureth  all,  believeth  all,  hopeth  all, 
sustaineth  all. 

naught  of  evil  does  he  think,  nor  is  he  irritable,  but  he  rejoiceth  in 
verity.  Sometimes  I  am  fully  convinced,  that  you,  in  no  wise 
spoke  for  form's  sake,  as  it  were,  neither  your  sayings  nor  your 
doings,  but  that  with  a  sincere  heart  and  with  pure  affections,  as 
becomes  a  true  professor  of  true  Christianity,  you  did  unfold  the 
sentiments  of  your  mind ;  thus  in  turn  I  would  you  believed  that 
your  mirror  reflected  the  image  of  him  looking  therein,  i.  e.  of 
yourself;  only,  had  you  not  enough  to  do  to  be  conformed  to 
Christ,  our  head,  in  point  of  a  sincere  heart  and  energies  (virtues), 
never  could  you  notice  or  admire  such  in  others,  though  you  had 
tried  it.  For  who  knoweth  the  business  of  a  man,  if  not  the  spirit 
of  the  man,  the  which  is  in  him:  but  none  among  us  knoweth  the 
affairs  of  God,  if  not  God's  spirit.  And  ye  who  act  in  the  spirit 
of  God,  the  same  He  acknowledges,  and  He  would  have  wished 
that,  also,  in  others  endowed  with  the  same  spirit.  But  the  gross, 
earthly  man,  &  another  divine  (theologian)  does  not  under- 
stand (grasp)  the  things  which  are  of  the  divine  spirit,  since  in- 
deed these  be  to  him  folly,  and  thus  (therefore)  he  cannot  know 
(understand)  those  things,  inasmuch  as  (because)  they  be  worthy 
of  being  examined  (judged)  spiritually.  1  Cor.  2,  14.  That  is, 
amiable  man,  from  whom  I  have  received  singular  (extraordinary) 
joy,  that  you,  namely,  although  being  (notwithstanding  your  be- 
ing) busy  in  the  hall  according  to  the  manner  of  your  duty 
(office),  &  according  to  the  custom  of  the  Levites,  encompassed 
round  about  with  animals  (sportive?),  &  scrutinizing,  instructing 


56  Letter  to  Rev.  Eric  Biorck. 

and  sacrificing  these  into  the  sanctuary  &  yet  looking  into  their 
interior  or  souls,  should  finally  worship  in  spirit  &  in  truth.  Of 
which  threefold  cult  of  a  minister,  &  of  the  order  of  the  same, 
grades,  duties,  &c.  I  should  have  many  &  knotty  points,  which 
I  might  discourse  of,  if  I  should  not  think  it  superfluous  to  begin 
an  enumeration  thereof  in  the  presence  of  a  learned  man :  nor  with 
another  end  do  I  allude  (treat  of)  to  these,  than  that  our  relation- 
ship in  Christ,  &  our  life  in  the  body,  of  which  you  have  made 
mention,  may  take  (assume)  a  greater  increase.  Nor  is  it  that, 
holding  fast,  he  may  throw  into  (infuse)  this  sacred  institution  a 
more  righteous  (way),  &  sin  surrounding  us  (Hebr.  12,  1)  &  the 
concerns  of  life  (2.  Tim.  2,  9),  as  far  as  to  these  things  it  be  ex- 
pedient, against  that  we  do  set  watch  (a  lying  out  on  guard). 
Verily  I  confess  with  you  that  the  necessaries  of  this  life  (as  they 
are  called)  or  the  things  pertaining  to  life  heap  up  great  barriers 
for  (against)  the  Christian  soldier,  with  the  witness  Wisdom 
(chap.  IX.  15.)  the  mortal  body  weigheth  down  the  spirit  & 
crusheth  the  understanding,  an  earthly  vessel  full  of  many  cares. 
Nor  would  you  incongruously  term  these  '  strange  pursuits,'  to 
wit,  we  are  living  on  strange  (foreign)  soil,  exiles  from  Para- 
dise, travellers  in  this  world,  nowhere  secure,  exclaiming  with 
David :  Woe  is  me !  who  am  wandering  so  long,  dwelling  with  the 
Cedariani  (that  I  sojourn  in  Meshech,  That  I  dwell  among  the 
tents  of  Kedar!)  i.  e.  in  darkened  tents  (tabernacles),  Psalm  120,  5. 
The  Cedariani,  indeed,  were  the  children  of  Ishmael,  not  going  to 
inherit  with  Isaac,  the  son  of  Sarah.  From  which  cause  we  desire 
this  dark  tabernacle  of  our  earthly  house  to  be  dissolved,  in  order 
that  we  may  obtain  an  edifice,  bright  &  glorious.  But  indeed, 
although  Abraham  may  have  interceded  for  Ishmael  even  and  may 
have  been  heard  (granted)  by  the  Lord;  we  also  groan,  burthened, 
unwilling  to  be  freed  (unclothed),  but  clothed  over  &  above,  that 


1  N.  B.  The  Septuagint  in  their  times  read  ^  .*.  =  mizzorim  =  strange, 
with  1  (resh  =  the  letter  R).  In  the  exemplar  (copy)  of  to-day  it  is 
read  with  *T  (daleth  =  the  letter  D),  Psalm  19,  14.  °H*P  =  mizzedim  = 
from  the  proud. 


The  Journal  of  Kelpius.  57 

our  mortality  may  be  absorbed  in  life.  2.  Cor.  V.  1.  Cor.  15,  51. 
&  N.  B.  Joh.  XI.  26.  But  of  this  hidden  mystery  of  the  resur- 
rection of  the  Just,  (I  will  say)  not  more  just  now. 

But  you  grieve,  most  loving  little  heart,  that  time  must  be 
expended  upon  the  necessaries  of  this  life?  I  grieve  with  you! 
But  does  it  seem  to  you  that  you  have  hope  in  a  strait,  (does  it 
seem  to  you)  from  this  cause  that  we  can  perfectly  serve  God  in 
this  life?  There  is  also  to  me  (hope)  !  I  despair  not  so  much  of 
the  victory  (how  very  distant  although  as  yet  I  may  be  (there- 
from)) induced  (as  I  am)  chiefly  by  the  following  arguments 
amongst  others:  I.  Paul  saith:  1.  Cor.  10,  31.  Whether  ye  eat,  or 
drink,  do  all  to  the  glory  of  God,  &  Col.  3,  17.  Whatsoever  ye 
do  both  in  words  &  deed,  that  shall  ye  do  in  the  name  of  Jesus, 
the  Lord,  &  giving  thanks  to  God  the  Father  through  him,  com- 
pare Eph.  5,  20.  1.  Thess.  5,  18.  But  of  the  things  pertaining 
to  life  they  do  eat  for  the  most  part  to  eat,  to  drink,  words  & 
works.  All  these  things  can  &  ought  be  made  subservient  to  the 
glory  of  God,  as  saith  Paul,  therefore  the  worship  of  God  doth  not 
present  (supply)  any  hindrance,  but  an  incentive  &  aid.  What- 
soever, he  saith,  pertaineth  to  the  worship  of  God  unto  (by)  man, 
ought  to  be  perfect.  Scarcely  was  it  lawful  in  the  old  Testament, 
when  seeking  many  things  for  sacrifices,  to  make  use  of  an  emblem, 
because  it  was  not  in  every  way  perfect.  Hence  therefore  as  if  the 
field  of  victory  (were)  in  these  very  particulars  appertaining  to  life, 
it  seems  to  me  to  be  made  manifest  (open),  if  in  truth  (no 
wonder)  I  shall  have  taken  heed  thereunto,  that  (I  shall  be)  free 
from  the  cares  of  the  gentiles,  Matt.  6.  end,  content  with  my  food 
&  raiment  (covering),  see  Tim.  6,  8,  from  the  desire  of  becoming 
rich  &  from  avarice  manifestly  averse,  ibid.,  v.  9,  10.  (entirely) 
not  entangled  (hampered)  by  the  affairs  (concerns,  duties)  of  life, 
2.  Tim.  2,  4.  I  say,  if  not  held  captive  by  all  these  very  things, 
but  I  shall  have  been  found  master  of  the  same,  1.  Cor.  6,  12.  Be- 
cause he  is  a  slave  of  these  things,  he  cannot  serve  God,  more- 
over we  cannot  serve  two  masters,  but  in  how  far  he  shall  have 
returned  into  servitude,  &  be  master  over  them,  in  so  far  does  he 


58  Letter  to  Rev.  Eric  Biorck. 

render  to  God  a  perfect  service  in  these  things  (hence  appear  the 
degrees  of  perfection)  nevertheless  dominion  consisteth  not  in  pos- 
sessing nothing  (for  what  sort  of  king  is  he  without  subjects)  but 
in  the  mind  from  the  things  possessed,  not  in  a  possessed  (mind) 
[whereof  the  sure  signs  are  thus  a)  in  acquired  things  he 
rejoiceth  not,  /?)  concerning  the  lost,  he  is  not  worried,  y) 
concerning  those  which  are  to  come  &  not  yet  acquired,  he  is 
affected  by  no  disquiet]  That  however  the  saints  of  old  have 
exhibited  a  perfect  cult  unto  God,  &  that  it  is  possible  now-a-days 
to  exhibit  such  to  God,  that  is,  by  not  serving  secular  (worldly) 
affairs,  but  by  ruling  over  them,  &  that  an  holocaust  perfect  out  of 
these  things  can  be  offered,  I  am  convinced. 

II.  The  Virtue  &  Efficacy  of  a  lively  Faith:  Christ  saith  unto 
us,  Mark  9,  23.  All  things  are  possible  to  him  that  believeth. 
Luke  confirms  17,  6.  why  not  therefore  also  rule  over  fleeting 
things?  Why  not  also  in  these  very  matters  exhibit  to  God  a 
perfect  service?  Is  the  prince  of  this  world  more  valiant  &  more 
powerful  (potent)  than  Christ  our  Saviour  &  Preserver?  (Has) 
not  Paul  of  long-standing  experience  in  these  matters  .  .  .  having 
been  taught  thoroughly,  he  exclaims:  I  can  perform  all  things 
through  him  that  strengtheneth  me  (or,  strengtheneth  me  by  an 
inner,  vital,  substantial,  radical  force).  By  (with)  Christ,  Phil, 
4,  13.  as  though  he  would  say:  even  as  without  Christ  I  can  do 
nothing,  John  15.  5.  so  with  Christ  I  can  do  every  thing,  who 
with  express  words  promised:  whatsoever  ye  shall  have  asked  in 
prayer,  believing,  ye  shall  obtain,  Matt.  21.  22.  &  that  without  any 
exception.  It  is  not,  therefore,  that  I  shew  my  inability  any 
further  (more  amply),  since  as  hath  been  shewn,  through  Christ 
we  may  get  all  power,  according  to  that  well-known  passage  of 
John  1,  12.  Whosoever,  NB.  whosoever  indeed  have  received 
him,  to  those  he  hath  given  that  power,  to  become  sons  of  God: 
therefore,  if  (we  be)  sons  &  coheirs  of  all  things  that  Christ  hath, 
even  as  he  himself  testifieth:  He  that  believeth  on  me,  the  same 
hath  all  things  with  me,  or  he  shall  even  do  greater  things  than 
these,  John   14.   12.    (the  works  that  I  do,  shall  he  do  also;  & 


The  Journal  of  Kclpius.  59 

greater  works  than  these  shall  he  do.)  And  he  who  shall  have 
conquered  (towards  the  possibility  of  conquering!)  to  him  shall  I 
give  to  sit  with  me  on  my  throne,  as  I  also  have  sat  down  a  victor 
with  my  Father  on  his  throne,  Apoc.  3,  end.  And  John  I.  Epistle, 
5,  4.  Whatsoever  is  begotten  of  God  overcometh  the  world,  & 
this  is  the  victory,  that  hath  overcome  the  world,  even  our  Faith. 

Finally,  in  the  third  place,  what  causes,  certainly,  my  Pyrrho- 
nism (skepticism)  &  doubting  to  blush,  is  that  well-known  love  of 
perfection,  with  which  we  are  bound  up.  Paul,  describing  the 
energy  thereof,  (to  use  an  hyperbolic,  though  not  incongruous 
epithet),  the  omnipotence  in  the  golden  to  Rom.  chapter  8th, 
finally,  after  a  long  enumeration  of  the  parts,  he  exclaims:  But 
in  all  these  things  we  surpass  more  than  we  conquer,  &  the  more 
so  are  we  conquerors,  through  the  Christ  loving  you.  Who,  there- 
fore, in  these  least  things,  wTould  despair  of  victory,  as  if  the  neces- 
saries of  life,  or  secular  concerns,  could  present  such  obstacles  unto 
the  Christ-loving  soul,  that  she  could  not  please  her  bridegroom  of 
the  perfect?  Whether  or  no,  he  who  loved  his  own  in  his  son 
before  the  foundation  of  the  world,  &  gave  to  us  his  only  begotten 
son,  in  the  likeness  of  ourselves,  unto  a  most  ignominious  death, 
will  he,  I  say,  donate  his  spirit  sparingly,  &  imperfectly,  or  a  spirit, 
inperfect,  mixed,  inadequate?  AwTay  with  such  a  thought  (not 
to  say:  a  suspicion)  of  a  loving  soul  concerning  so  loveworthy  a 
God !  John  the  Baptist  eloquently  testifieth  the  contrary  of  Christ: 
To  whom,  he  saith,  God  gave  spirit  without  measure,  i.  e.  im- 
measurable &  entire.  He  himself,  of  a  verity,  is  the  vine,  we  the 
branches  thereof,  John  XV.,  now  with  what  sap  &  spirit  the  vine 
is  nourished  (poured  through),  with  the  same,  also,  the  branches 
(are  nourished).  Hence,  also,  concerning  us  Paul,  Tit.  3,  6.  he 
hath  poured  out  his  holy  spirit  upon  us,  richly,  opulently,  plenti- 
fully, exceeding  all  desire,  compare  Rom.  5,  5.  Also,  in  how  much 
we  are  impelled  by  the  spirit  of  Christ,  in  so  much  do  we  bid  fare- 
well to  the  spirit  of  this  world:  or,  in  how  far  we  love  Christ,  in 
so  far  do  we  pursue  with  hatred  worldly  &  perishable  things; 
until  the  perfected  love  (1  John  4,  18)   thrusteth  out  every  fear 


60  Letter  to  Rev.  Eric  Biorck. 

of  all  enemies,  &  the  accomplisher  crowneth  the  conquerors  with  a 
perfect  crown. 

But  to  revert  to  myself: 

How  happeneth  it,  my  Kelpius!  that  unto  thy  God,  so  love- 
worthy, so  rich,  so  liberal  &  in  endless  ways  transcending  thine 
every  desire,  in  these  least  things,  in  temporal  affairs,  in  perishable 
things,  in  foreign  things,  in  external  &  transitory  affairs  (not  to 
say  eternal  &  spiritual),  I  say,  in  these  thou  hast  not  hitherto 
shewn  the  acme  of  perfection  &  scarcely  shewest  it  even  now? 
Knowest  thou  not  that  all  the  saints  of  old  have  shewn  it,  &  art 
thou  not  very  sure  that  it  is  possible  even  now,  while  the  very 
same  spirit  survives,  your  leader,  your  guide,  your  helper  &  accom- 
plisher? What  sort  of  an  account,  I  pray,  wilt  thou  give,  here- 
after, to  the  judge,  judging  without  regard  to  persons  &  that  ac- 
cording to  the  works  of  every  one?  To  these  &  similar  objections, 
I  answer:  Man,  indeed,  is  born,  not  immediately  on  the  first  day, 
nor  immediately  in  the  first  year,  &  in  seven  years  he  reaches  man- 
hood, yet,  nevertheless,  man  is  perfect,  he  is  furnished  (endowed) 
with  all  things  constituting  the  human  body:  granted,  even  if  all 
the  members  be  very  delicate,  &  the  whole  body  subject  to  various 
accidents,  vicissitudes,  sorrows  &  diseases:  &  the  mind  (subject  to) 
instructions,  chastisements,  &  exercises  &  an  infinite  number  of 
other  things:  yet  he  despaireth  not  in  all  these,  that  he  will  once 
reach  the  age  of  manhood.  But  if  these  things  are  certain  in  the 
mortal  generation,  how  much  more  (are  they  so)  in  the  regenera- 
tion, when  (where)  various  degrees  of  perfection  are  given.  Justi- 
fication, namely,  is  accomplished  through  faith  by  one  act  indeed 
(just  as  the  natural  generation  &  filiation,  so  to  speak) :  but 
renovation  &  sanctification  are  to  be  pursued  throughout  our  entire 
lives,  until  we  may  reach  the  goal,  i.  e.  the  age  of  manhood  in 
Christ,  according  to  that  dictum :  And  he  that  is  righteous,  let  him 
do  righteousness  still :  &  he  that  is  holy,  let  him  be  made  holy  still. 
Apoc.  22.  &  that  well-known  saying :  He  that  doth  not  advance  in 
that  which  is  good,  retrogradeth :  he  that  doth  not  progress  on  the 
holy  road,  regresseth.     Namely,  even  as  we  advance  from  child- 


The  Journal  of  Kelp'ms.  61 

hood  to  the  age  of  manhood,  gradually,  so,  little  by  little,  (\vc 
advance)  from  vices  to  virtue,  &,  in  turn,  from  virtues  unto 
virtues,  2.  Pet.  I,  5.  6.  7.  &  Apoc.  chapters  I.  &  II.  where  the 
seven  degrees;  we  go  to  the  age  of  manhood,  or  the  age  of  per- 
fection, not  in  the  life  to  come,  but  in  this  life:  likewise,  also,  in 
this  life,  sins  must  be  overcome;  from  the  very  bottom  &  the  root 
they  must  be  extirpated.  And  just  as,  when  the  sun  ascendcth 
above  the  horizon,  the  darkness  is  gradually  dispelled,  the  mists 
pass  away  by  degrees;  until,  standing  at  mid-day,  he  triumph  com- 
pletely over  darkness.  Thus  Christ,  the  sun  &  light  of  the  spir- 
itual &  new  world,  not  only  beginneth  to  dispel  in  us  the  reign  of 
darkness  &  foul  whirlpool  night,  but  through  faith  in  ourselves,  he 
conducteth  the  war  unto  perfect  victory.  But  faith  according  to 
that  passage  in  Paul,  1.  Cor.  13,  end,  is  of  this  life,  not  of  the  life 
to  come:  indeed  our  errors  on  account  of  the  necessaries  of  life  (of 
which  I  began  speaking)  belong  to  this  life,  not  the  future  one, 
therefore,  we  must  here  triumph  over  these.  Nor  did  the  Israel- 
ites sin  in  that,  because  they  did  not  cast  out  the  Canaanites  in  one 
day,  or  in  one  year,  but  in  that,  they  believed  not  the  command  of 
God  nor  his  promise  of  victory,  as  if  He  were  commanding  impos- 
sibilities: who  afterwards  were  willing,  but  in  vain,  because 
God  was  unwilling  so  I  also,  although  I  have  not  yet  attained  to 
thorough  manhood  ( Ecclesiastes,  7.  29)  &  I  have  not  yet  cast  out 
of  my  land  worldly  desires,  &  consequently  not  all  Canaanites,  yet 
am  I  daily  bent  upon  it,  that  I  make  greater  advances  in  the  camp 
of  the  enemies,  until  that*  I  may  be  crowned  with  true  quietude  of 
soul  as  a  perfect  conqueror  of  all  enemies,  having  vanquished  & 
utterly  extirpated  them.  But  if  truly,  according  to  the  likeness  of 
that  worthless,  cowardly  &  timid  servant  (compare  Apoc.  21,  8., 
Matt.  25),  I  should  despair  in  this  life  of  the  gain  (advantage)  & 
the  victory,  &  should  accuse  the  Lord,  as  if  He  were  commanding 
impossibilities,  of  severity,  I  should  not  obey  His  command  of  per- 
fection, Matt.  5,  48.  of  perfect  sanctification,  Lev.  II,  44.  chapter 
19,  2.  1.  Pet.  1,  15,  16.  I  should  distrust  Him,  He  offering  aid 
&  victory,  I  should  delay  the  war  against  the  enemies,  assailing  me 


62  Letter  to  Rev.  Eric  Biorck. 

in  this  present  world,  to  the  future  world,  where  no  enemies  are 
given ;  I  say  by  doing  this,  I  should  sin,  &  deservedly  would  I  be 
hurled  at  last  into  the  lowermost  darkness,  inasmuch  as  I,  who 
would  not  go  out  during  the  six  days  (as  those  would  not,  who 
were  idle),  i.  e.  in  this  life,  I  would  seek  the  manna  on  the  Sabbath 
day,  i.  e.,  in  the  life  to  come. 

I  have  rested  with  the  foolish  virgins,  the  bridegroom  having 
entered,  &  the  gates  having  been  closed,  I  was  knocking,  i.  e.  in 
this  life,  as  if  it  were  night,  I  neglected  to  walk  in  the  perfect  light 
of  Christ,  &  the  like  of  her  I  went  about  the  will-o'-the-wisp,  but 
I  did  not  go  forth  to  meet  him  a-shouting  with  the  prudent  ones, 
while  it  was  midnight  as  yet,  &  the  gate  open,  &  the  bridegroom 
was  coming  on.  In  this  manner  I  should  be  like  a  child,  who,  if 
he  were  to  reach  manhood  hereafter,  should  foreknow  how  great 
hardships  were  yet  to  be  overcome  with  great  pain,  to  obtain 
wherewith  he  should  be  fed  &  clothed,  how  great  annoyances  were 
to  be  undergone  at  the  schools,  &  chastisements  to  be  sustained  for 
cultivating  the  mind  towards  the  acquisition  of  prudence  in  con- 
cerns of  business:  I  say,  considering  (weighing)  thoroughly  these 
&  other  grievances  of  that  sort,  he  should  despair  of  obtaining 
virile  age  in  this  life,  &  place  his  trust  in  death,  as  if  dead,  he 
should  at  least  come  off  a  perfect  man.  But  dropping  this  fool,  I 
have  chosen  to  imitate  the  infant  Redeemer,  who  grew  both  in  age 
&  wisdom  before  God  &  men:  this  one  remained  hidden  from  the 
twelfth  year  of  his  age  for  eighteen  years.  He  remained  hidden, 
I  say,  but  he  lived  well,  i.  e.  he  grew  from  day  to  day,  until  he 
went  forth,  in  his  thirtieth  year,  A  Man.  And,  after  that,  he  most 
perfectly  fulfilled  the  will  of  his  Father  for  the  salvation  of  the 
entire  world,  he  went  out  of  this  life,  &,  sitting  at  the  right  hand 
of  his  omnipotent  Father,  he  sendeth  his  Holy  Spirit  unto  all 
believing  on  him.  He  also  aideth  mine  infirmities;  for  me  &  in 
me  he  pleadeth  with  unspeakable  sighing  (Rom.  8,  26)  &  he  ac- 
complished in  me,  that  I  am  both  willing  &  at  times  thoroughly 
do  the  will  of  my  Father  Abba.  And  so  the  virtue  of  the  Almighty 
is  perfected  in  mine  infirmity. 


The  Journal  of  K  el  pins.  63 

I  believe,  therefore,  according  to  the  testimony  of  the  entire 
Scripture  with  all  Saints:  That  our  Father  wisheth,  wisheth ,  I  say, 
that  his  children  be  free  from  every  fault:  that  God  wisheth  they 
may  withhold  themselves  from  every  sin;  mankind  were  created 
by  Him  for  justice,  &  He  donated  them  with  the  spirit  of  His 
Son.  That  Christ  desireth  that  those  be  purified  from  every  sin, 
for  the  expiation  of  whom,  he  himself  became  a  victim,  £«f  that  the 
virgin  soul  is  to  be  delivered  up  to  him;  a  virgin,  I  say,  chaste  & 
devoid  of  every  wrinkle  or  vice,  he  entrusted  her  unto  us.  That 
the  Holy  Spirit  effecteth  that  this  will  of  the  Father  &  of  the  Son 
be  accomplished  in  us  as  yet  in  this  life.  And,  although,  thus  far 
I  may  have  been  subjected  to  infinite  temptations  &  may  have 
borne  my  cross  daily,  nor  have  always  advanced  with  equal  steps, 
nay  rather  have  fallen  oftentimes,  &  as  to  that,  into  the  horrid 
whirlpool  &  filthy  mire  (Psalm  XL.  3.)  &  have  drawn  near  the 
gate  of  death  (Psalm  IX.),  insomuch  that  with  the  same  David, 
I  should  have  cried  out:  (Psalm  38.)  Jehovah,  turn  not  upon  me 
fiercely!  Punish  me  not  in  thine  anger!  [This  chastisement  may 
be  of  the  healing  not  of  the  killing  one:  with  the  rod  of  love  of  a 
father  toward  his  son,  Hebr.  12.,  not  of  a  judge  pursuing  with 
the  sword  of  judgment].  For  thy  darts  are  thrust  upon  me,  thy 
hand  presseth  me  down  [&  with  Job,  chap.  6.  The  arrows  of  the 
Almighty  are  within  me,  the  poison  whereof  my  spirit  drinketh  up, 
while  I  am  wrestling  with  the  terrors  of  God.]  Thy  chastisement 
in  my  heart,  the  continued  representation  of  Thy  dreadful  judg- 
ment, &  the  long  lasting  absence  of  Thy  gratuitous  consolations, 
bringeth  it  about,  that  I  begin  to  perceive  nothing  if  not  (only) 
sin  within  me  &  without.  For  nothing  is  sound  in  my  body  [vici- 
ousness  dwelleth  in  me!  for  I  know  &  daily  experience  that  the 
good  dwelleth  not  in  me,  i.  e.  in  my  flesh  or  in  the  human  nature ; 
but  sin  dwelleth  in  me,  against  this]  so  great  is  Thine  anger,  that 
Thou  didst  not  spare  Thy  son,  who  was  a  stranger  to  sin,  but 
didst  give  him  over  into  death,  &  madest  an  execration  for  exe- 
crable me,  that  I  too  may  become  ingrafted  in  that  similitude  of 
his  death,  to  the  end  that  the  sinful  body  may  be  cast  off,  nor  that 
I  be  in  bondage  of  sin  any  longer,  for  in  my  limbs  there  is  nothing 
uninjured  on  account  of  my  sin. 


VI. 

LETTER  TO  MARY  ELIZABETH  GERBER  IN 

VIRGINIA. 

To  Mary  Elizabeth  Gerber  in  Virginia, 

(Translation.) 

October  8th,  1704. 
Contents: — An  answer  to  her  letter,  in  which  she  requests  an 
expression  of  my  opinion  concerning  the  Quakers. 
Immanuel!     Granted  the  request.     Eph.  1,  17-23.     In  Jesu  C, 
our  Lord,  most  esteemed  &  revered  Sister : 

«OUR  beloved  missive  of  Aug.  23rd  '4,  duly  received. 
I  rejoice  in  that  you  would  awake  from  the  death-like 
slumber  of  sin  of  the  world,  &  from  worldly  senti- 
ments, &  in  that  you  earnestly  covet  the  inheritance 
of  the  Saints,  &  would  walk  in  the  light  of  the  Son 
of  God.  I,  likewise,  entertain  the  confident  hope,  that 
the  God  of  Peace,  hath,  indeed,  begun  in  your  soul  the  work  of  the 
new  creation  (regeneration),  &  will,  through  the  blood  of  the  ever- 
lasting Covenant,  also,  perfect  the  same  unto  the  day  of  Jesu 
Christ.  As  regards  other  matters,  &  them  also  (the  Friends?) 
(less  scattered  in  the  communities  of  the  present  day,  &  in  spirit 
bound,  expecting  the  hope  of  Sion)  (Zion)  these  let  us  carry  in  our 
hearts,  for  God,  &  pray  for  them — your  love  requesteth  of  me,  all 
manner  of  experience  &  cognition,  to  the  end  that  you  may  prove, 
what  be  the  best;  especially  in  these  latter,  dangerous  times,  in 
which  not  only  the  mockers  (scoffers),  described  by  the  Apostles 
(2.  Pet.  3,  3.2.  Tim.  3,  1)  do  in  all  stations  of  life  &  in  all 
religions  so  prodigiously  increase,  but  also  there  have  gone  forth  all 
manner  of  angels  &  spirits  (1  John  4.7.2.    Pet.  2,  1.     Matth.  24. 

64 


The  Journal  of  Kelpius.  65 

n.  1.  Cor.  11.  19.  1.  Tim.  4.  1.)  &  they  have  instituted  con- 
gregations, one  arming  against  the  other.  Here  Temples  of  the 
Lord!  Here  the  Catholic  Church  of  Christ!  Here  the  Orthodox 
Evangelical!  Here  the  Chosen  Reformed!  Here  the  again-born 
baptized  (Anabaptists?)  !  Here  the  Folk  (People)  of  God,  walk- 
ing in  the  Light,  etc.  Now  some  of  these  have  their  distinct  praise, 
gift  of  beauty,  strength,  might,  power,  wisdom,  order,  light  &c,  the 
which,  indeed,  are  apparent  to  an  impartial  eye,  whilst  at  the  same 
time,  we  perceive,  that  they  have  received  said  ornaments  but  piece- 
meal, &  not  in  the  highest  &  most  irrefragable  perfection:  the  one 
hath  received  this,  the  other  that,  none  (not  one)  of  them  hath 
received  all  (ornaments)  alone  in  the  highest  degree:  all  in  part, 
not  one  in  united  harmony.  One  possesseth  something  apart  from 
the  rest  &  very  similar  to  the  image  of  perfection,  which  is  wanting 
to  the  other,  the  latter,  in  turn,  hath  something,  that  is  wanting  to 
the  former,  &c.  Howbeit  every  one  vaunteth  as  being  the  best  & 
most  comely  amongst  all  these  women,  &  the  last  (of  which  you, 
dear  Sister,  write)  claims  to  be  the  only  dove,  dearest  unto  her 
mother,  yea,  the  chosen  one  of  her  mother,  yea,  verily,  the  mother 
or  the  very  self  of  the  New  Jerusalem.  But  unto  this  very  day  are 
not  agreed  amongst  themselves,  as  to  which  of  them  deserveth  the 
chief  place:  yet  why  speak  of  their  reaching  an  agreement?  They 
have  no  such  intention:  they  even  contend  among  themselves,  but 
not  as  did  erstwhile  the  Disciples  of  Christ,  as  to  who  should  be 
regarded  chief  in  the  Mystery  of  Grace  (devotion),  but  which  of 
them  be  most  accomplished  in  the  mystery  of  malice,  the  arch 
heretic,  yea,  even  the  Babylonian  harlot  herself:  nor  are  they  con- 
tent with  reviling,  those  that  are  in  power  use  the  sword,  those 
lacking  the  sword  make  swords  of  their  tongues,  &  with  such  blind 
rage,  that  it  moves  to  pity ;  first,  that  they  are  unable  to  recognize 
themselves;  second,  nor  those  against  whom  they  are  fighting; 
thirdly,  least  of  all  are  they  aware  of  what  they  profess  (this  is 
especially  true  of  the  last). 

"Who  are  they,  pray?"     You,  esteemed  Sister,  will  probably 
ask,  &  how  shall  I  learn  to  know  them,  that  I  may  not  err  in  my 


66  Letter  to  Mary  Elizabeth  Gerber. 

judgment,  &  become  a  partaker  of  their  contention,  &  come  into 
danger  of  the  judgment,  that  needs  must  follow?  "  Answer:  This 
is  taught  by  Paul,  Gal.  4.  Coloss.  2.,  by  the  Apocalypse  &  by  the 
Song  of  Songs  of  Sol.,  as  followeth,  namely:  They  all  are  sisters 
amongst  themselves  £sf  children  of  Jerusalem,  but  not  of  her  that  is 
free,  but  of  her  that  is  a  handmaid  &  in  thraldom  with  her  chil- 
dren. Which  becometh  clear  (see  p.  9.  10.  Gal.  4),  that  they  all 
serve  weak  &  paltry  tenets  (statutes).  They  observe  days  & 
months  &  feasts  &  seasons,  each  in  his  particular  manner  &  differ- 
ently, as  compared  with  the  others,  (hence  the  origin  of  the  strife, 
schism  or  sects  among  them).  Yet  in  this  they  are  all  agreed, 
that  they  serve  their  own  tenets,  which  they  love,  &  which  they 
recognize  as  good  &  true;  these  tenets  they  exalt,  defend,  propa- 
gate, &  extol  before  others  (proselytize),  etc.  All  of  which 
(sects,  etc.)  (however  profligate  some  of  them  may  be)  have  a 
semblance  of  wisdom  &  truth;  wherefore,  also,  Paul  calleth  all 
such  tenet-service  or  living  according  to  law — "  Philosophy  "  or 
love  of  wisdom,  Col.  2.  Of  these  (people)  they  teach  in  the 
schools  of  the  present  day,  of  each  distinctly,  as  well  as  of  what 
truth  they  hold,  so  far  as  demonstrable  in  Holy  Writ,  but  the  body 
or  the  entity  herself  &  the  occult  wisdom  &  truth  are  not  therein 
(in  these  meetings),  but  in  Christ,  in  whom  there  lie  hidden  all 
treasures  of  wisdom  &  understanding,  yea  the  entire  plenitude  of 
the  Deity  dwelleth  corporally  in  Him.  Through  Him  we  are 
rendered  entirely  participant  of  the  entity  of  all  tenets  deduced 
from  (mentioned  in)  Holy  Writ.  (As  Paul  adduceth  a  renowned 
example  of  circumcision,  Col.  2,  V.  11),  but  such  tenets  as  are 
not  mentioned  in  the  Scriptures,  these  appertain  (are  referable)  to 
mankind,  commandments  &  doctrines;  Vol.  2.  22.  N.B.  Matth. 
15.  9.  Isaiah  (Esa)  29.  13.  unto  which,  indeed,  some  of  these 
church-women  do  more  homage  than  to  those,  which  are  called  the 
"shadows  of  the  body"  by  Paul,  Col.  2.  17.  Hebr.  8.  5-  chap. 
10.  1.  Whereby  they  are  clearly  recognized,  of  what  mind  they 
be,  namely,  children  of  Sinai  or  Hagar,  of  the  bond-woman  &  not 
of  the  free  understanding,  yea  of  Sinai,  even  of  his  great  splendor, 


The  Journal  of  Kelpius.  67 

light,  spirit,  clearness,  enlightenment,  mutes  etc.  Especially  in  the 
New  Testament,  far  more  splendidly  than  in  the  Old,  in  which  it 
Is  more  spiritual:  Thus  it  is  .  .  .  wherefore,  up  to  this  time,  naught 
else  hath  appeared  in  Christendom  (primitive  Christianity  ex- 
cepted) ;  for  what  of  Zion  hath  been  there  <Sc  still  abideth,  is 
only  in  the  desert,  whereof  we  shall  soon  speak  more  amply ;  hence 
it  hath  come  to  pass,  that  many  a  one,  inexperienced  in  the  word 
of  justice,  &  that  such,  whose  senses  were  not  practiced  in  dis- 
criminating, have  honored  the  bond-woman,  instead  of  the  woman 
(mistress)  herself,  &,  likewise,  regarded  the  bond-slave  for  the 
Son.  To  the  end  that  you,  esteemed  Sister,  may  not  fall  into  the 
same  error,  I  shall  briefly  touch  upon  what  is  meant  by  the  Woman, 
the  free  and  only  Dove  of  the  rightful  Solomon,  or  the  New 
Jerusalem,  so  that,  by  comparing  the  one  with  the  other,  you  may 
recognize  both  more  readily.  Isaiah  saith,  chap.  65,  that  in  the 
New  Jerusalem,  which  the  Lord  willed  to  create  on  earth  (N.B. 
on  earth,  &,  therefore,  not  in  heaven,  though  she  descendeth  from 
heaven)  the  voice  of  lamentation  &  of  weeping  shall  be  heard  no 
more.  Likewise  saith  He  in  the  Apocalypse,  chap.  21.  4.  death 
shall  be  no  more,  nor  sorrow,  nor  wailing  (crying),  nor  pains. 
But  whereof  doth  a  repentant  heart  complain  &  weep  more,  than 
of  sin?  What  else  is  the  sting  of  death,  than  sin?  What  filleth 
us  with  greater  grief,  than  sin  committed?  Where  is  the  loudest 
wailing  &  the  greatest  pain,  if  not  in  the  anxiety  of  being  born 
again  (regeneration),  John  16.21.  Hence,  the  sense  hereof  is: 
In  the  New  Jerusalem  there  shall  be  no  more  sinners,  none  that 
stand  in  need  of  repentance,  none  that  suffer  the  pains  of  regen- 
eration: (as  we  read  in  the  last  verse:  Naught  that  is  vile  shall 
enter  therein,  nor  that  worketh  abomination  &  falsehoods),  but 
regenerated  ones  only,  holy,  just,  new  men,  who  can  sin  no  more, 
1  John  3.9.  chap.  8,  10.  Heb.  9.28.,  who,  therefore,  die  no  more, 
neither  bodily  nor  spiritually,  Apoc.  21,  4.  1  Cor.  15,  26.  54. 
John  11.  26.  Luke,  20.  36.  In  brief:  The  curse  and  death, 
which  are  laid  in  &  upon  the  entire  creation  (creature),  by  the 
fall  of  the  first  Adam,  under  which  even  to  this  hour  all  creatures 


68  Letter  to  Mary  Elizabeth  Gerber. 

have  groaned,  Rom.  8,  18-25.  shall  be  completely  removed  by  the 
atonement  &  efficacy  of  the  everlasting  redemption  in  the  blood  of 
the  second  Adam,  offered  up  on  the  cross,  when  He  shall  come  a 
second  time  bodily  (I  say  bodily,  because  some  would  have  it  but 
spiritually,  whereas  it  shall  be  both;  still,  however,  it  is  only  in 
the  mystery  of  devotion  as  yet  see  A.A.  1,  10.2.  (acts  of  Apostles) 
Thess.  5,  10.  that  He  appear  glorious  in  &  with  His  Saints  & 
wonderful  in  &  with  (thus  readeth  the  original  text)  all  the  faith- 
ful, which  Paul,  Rom.  8.  calleth  the  manifestation  of  the  children 
of  God.  Who  are  the  children  of  the  resurrection,  Luke,  20.  36. 
This  shall  be  the  year  of  the  great  jubilee,  when  all  prisoners  will 
be  set  free,  &  each  one  will  return  to  his  parental  inheritance,  the 
which  we  have  lost  in  our  first  father  Adam,  whereof  the  entire 
Old  Testament  is  filled.  Of  this  the  Apostles  &  first  Christians 
had  but  the  firstlings,  but  not  the  fullness,  not  the  perfection  ( Rom. 
8.  23)  (Cor.  13,  9-2  Cor.  5.  7.)  the  which  they  awaited,  as  they 
had,  indeed,  so  plentifully  received  the  coming  (future)  of  Christ 
in  the  spirit,  as  no  congregation  or  church  after  Him  even  to  this 
hour.  They  possessed  all  manner  of  spiritual  gifts  both  for  their 
inner  glorification,  as  well  as  for  the  outer  working  of  miracles. 
Thus,  in  their  community,  there  was  not  heard  any  longer  the  voice 
of  groaning,  weeping  &  lamentation,  but  that  of  joy  &  rejoicing 
(1  A.  2,  46.  47.  C.  3,  3i.  Rom.  5,  3-5.  Phil.  4,  4.  1  Pet.  4. 
13).  If  an  unclean  one,  or  a  hypocrite  or  a  liar  wanted  to  join 
them,  he  either  was  liable  to  instant  death,  or  he  was  punished  in 
the  presence  of  all,  &  the  hidden  things  of  his  heart  became 
manifest,  so  that  he  had  to  fall  upon  his  countenance  (prone)  & 
adore  God  &  confess  that  God  was  truly  in  him.  1  Cor.  4,  24,  25. 
(though  these  did  not  long  enjoy  their  happiness,  for  the  great 
apostasy  &  Antichrist  was  up  already  and  doing  in  their  days. 
Thess.  2,  7.)  And  yet  they  became  not  prouder  &  filled,  as 
though  they  had  enough  already  &  wanted  no  more  (as  in  Laod. 
Apoc.  3)  for  they  had  seized  (grasped)  the  utmost  dove-like 
simplicity,  the  which  alone  seeketh  the  King's  heart,  that  is  not 
satisfied  with  any  gifts,  until  that  she  have  the  Giver  himself,  (not 


The  Journal  of  Kelpius.  69 

to  say  (much  less)  that  she  loveth  the  Giver  for  the  sake  of  the 
gifts)  but  to  exclaim  all  along:  Come,  Lord  Jesu!  yea,  the  Spirit 
himself  &  the  bride  said,  Come!  And  he  that  beareth  witness  of 
all  this,  saith:  yea,  I  come  quickly!  amen.  Whence  all,  that  are 
participant  of  the  same  Spirit  cry,  by  day  &  by  night,  at  all  places, 
whithersoever  they  have  been  scattered:  "  Yes,  come  Lord  Jesu!  " 
And,  pray,  dear  Sister,  how  can  the  bride  be  prepared  without  the 
bridegroom?  Or,  is  the  perfection  to  be  wrought  in  the  spirit 
only?  But  then,  what  of  the  resurrection  from  death  &  the  re- 
demption of  this  body,  for  which  all  members  of  Christ  do,  with 
Paul,  so  anxiously  cry  (Rom.  8,  15.  Phil.  2,  20.  21.  1  Cor.  15. 
entirely.  Col.  3,  4.  1  John  3,  2.  2.  Peter  3.  entirely.  2.  Cor.  5, 
I— II.)  Did  Christ,  then,  in  spirit  only  ascend  into  heaven?  &, 
hence,  is  He  to  be  expected  in  spirit  only?  Shall  the  selfsame 
Jesus,  whom  his  disciples  did  see  to  ascend  bodily,  from  the  Mount 
of  Olives  come  back  again,  just  as  his  disciples  saw  Him  ascending 
into  heaven:  why,  then,  do  our  Laodiceans  of  the  present  day  de- 
clare, that  He  hath  (is)  come  already?  "  He  is  come!'  they  say 
(as  I  myself  have  heard  and  read  in  their  writings).  "  He  is 
come,  Friends,  we  bide  none  other!"  Is,  then,  he,  whom  the 
Apostles  &  primitive  Christians  waited  for,  an  other  one,  than  he, 
whom  they  had  (seen)  already  ascend,  &  who  sent  them  from 
heaven  after  ten  days  the  promise  of  the  Father,  namely:  The 
Holy  Spirit?  Or,  did  they  await  Him  merely  for  these  ten  days, 
but  not  thereafter,  because  they  now  had  His  spirit?  Why,  then, 
as  aforesaid,  do  the  spirit  himself  &  the  bride,  at  the  conclusion  of 
the  Apocalypse,  cry:  "  Come,  Lord  Jesu!  " 

Yes,  dear  Friends!  If  He  be  come  &  ye  bide  none  other,  why, 
then,  do  we  hear  at  all  your  meetings,  especially  when  these  are 
most  godly,  as  you  say,  the  voice  of  sobbing,  of  weeping,  lamenta- 
tion, yea  anguish,  sorrow,  pain  &  ululation  as  for  one  dead?  Is 
this  the  jubilant  voice  of  the  bride  for  her  bridegroom?  If,  how- 
ever, ye  do  rejoice  by  virtue  of  being  moved  by  His  Spirit  as  the 
(since)  Spirit  of  Christ  is  made  manifest  among  you  at  times,  just 
as  amongst  all  other  congregations)  O,  then,  do  for  once  give 
5 


70  Letter  to  Mary  Elizabeth  Gerber. 

honor  unto  God  &  confess:  that  you  have,  indeed,  received  a 
glimpse  of  His  beauty  through  His  spirit  in  your  hearts,  but  never 
yet  have  ye  seen  the  Lord  of  Glory  himself  with  His  royal  diadem, 
wherewith  His  Mother  shall  crown  Him  on  the  day  of  His 
exaltation!  Or,  had  ye  seen  Him,  your  heart  would  rejoice  in 
so  much,  that  your  joy  would  nevermore  be  taken  from  you  (John 
1 6,  22),  since,  as  you  say,  you  must  at  every  meeting  await  Him 
anew.  Yea,  if  ye  had  but  His  spirit,  the  other  Paraclete,  whom 
the  Father  giveth  that  He  remain  supreme  (John  14,  16),  remain- 
ing and  dwelling  in  you,  ye  would  not  begin  to  rejoice  as  at  a 
marriage  feast  for  the  time,  but  with  the  woman  in  the  desert  & 
her  seed,  together  with  the  Spirit,  ye  would  cry  day  and  night: 
"  Come,  Lord  Jesu !  "  &  patiently  await  His  coming.  But  if  ye 
be  the  holy  people,  God's  only  people,  whence  cometh  it,  that  the 
number  of  the  uncircumcised,  of  the  unclean,  of  the  abominable  & 
horrid  liars,  &  of  all  manner  of  sinners,  is  far  greater  among  you, 
than  the  number  of  the  just?  Have  not  your  tenets  (statutes), 
symbols  or  sacraments,  whereby  ye  are  distinguished  from  other 
communities,  become,  at  present,  the  pall  of  (for)  vices,  under 
cover  of  which  the  worst  hypocrites  can  conceal,  yea  really  do  con- 
ceal themselves  ?  Saith  old  George  Fox  in  his  Journal :  As  soon  as 
any  statute,  though  it  be  the  way  of  the  Apostles,  hath  become  a 
cloak  for  hypocrites,  they  are  an  abomination  before  God.  Now, 
should  I  consider  your  society  the  most  beautiful  among  women, 
that  is  free  from  blemish  &  hereditary  evil,  Cant.  4.  10.,  as  the 
community  of  the  first-born,  begotten  in  the  perfection  of  justice? 
Alas,  ye  are  not  even  like  unto  the  community  of  the  Apostles  & 
first  Christians,  who  were  but  a  picture  &  a  shadow  of  the  future 
(community)  !  How  could  ye  be  the  (community)  of  which 
they  (Apostles  &  first  Christians)  prophesied,  &  for  whose  manifes- 
tation they  did  so  earnestly  pray?  The  best  among  you  must  work 
out  their  salvation  with  fear  &  trembling.  Now,  the  spirit  of  fear 
&  trembling  is  the  spirit  of  Hagar  &  Sinai,  Heb.  12,  21.  &  not  the 
spirit  of  Hagar  &  Sarah,  which  is  the  spirit  of  the  new  creation  in 
the  new  Adam,  Jesus,  the  Mediator  &  Founder  of  the  new  cove- 


The  Journal  of  Kelpius.  7 1 

nant,  &  (the  spirit)  erieth:  Abba,  Father,  Rom.  8,  15.  Gal.  4,  6. 
&  worketh  in  us  a  perfect  love,  which  expclleth  fear,  1  John  4,  18. 
&  (is)  a  joy  on  the  day  of  Judgment,  as  is  (felt)  by  those  who 
have  penetrated  from  death  unto  life,  John  5,  24.  (Concerning 
this  joyous  confidence  &  assurance,  read  Rom.  8.  31-39.,  which  are 
wrought  by  the  spirit  of  mercy  (grace)  &  faith,  (which  proceedeth) 
from  Zion  &  the  Glad  Tidings,  which  (spirit)  gladdeneth  the 
heart  &  maketh  it  to  feel  gay  towards  God  &  man,  so  that  we  will, 
without  compulsion,  willingly  &  gladly,  do  good  unto  all  men, 
suffer  all  things,  serve  every  one,  &c.  But  the  servile  spirit  of 
Sinai  is  for  ever  complaining,  mourning,  murmuring,  anguishing  & 
tormenting  the  conscience  forever  more,  &  yet  being  unable  to  help, 
nor  yet  to  impart  strength,  since  always  vexing).  Now  ye  have, 
indeed,  caught  a  glimpse  (of  the  true  community,  but  deeming  the 
same  endangered  as  yet  &  fixing  a  limit  (measure),  therefore  you 
give  those  coming  (to  you)  opportunely,  to  understand  that  ye 
have  as  yet  not  reached  the  tranquilly  flowing  nether  waters  of  per- 
fection because  these  are  inexhaustible  (lost  in  inexhaustibility) 
— But,  esteemed  Sister,  I  seem  to  have  forgotten  you,  in  apostro- 
phizing (addressing)  others,  while  writing  to  you.  But  may  the 
Lord  give  unto  (you)  her  the  spirit  of  Wisdom  &  Scrutiny,  so  that 
she  may,  with  Mary,  choose  the  best  part.  But  methinks  I  hear 
her  say:  This  would  I  fain  (have)  should  I  forget  thee,  Jerusalem, 
may  my  right  be  forgotten.  My  tongue  must  cleave  unto  my  pal- 
ate, whenever  I  suffer  not,  Jerusalem,  thy  memory  to  be  my  great- 
est joy.  This  is  the  free  one !  This  is  the  fairest  amongst  women. 
This  is  the  dove,  the  only  one  of  her  mother,  the  dearest,  the  chosen 
one  of  her  mother.  But,  alas,  where  is  she !  Who  leadeth  me  unto 
her!  Since  my  former  leaders  have  been  but  misleaders,  &  those 
that  offered  oil  unto  me,  were  the  petty  merchants  in  Chaldea. 
Tell  me,  where  He  pastureth,  whom  my  soul  loveth,  where  He 
resteth  on  the  noon-day  of  His  greatest  power,  that  I  may  but 
wander  to  &  fro  among  the  herds  of  His  companions!  Where, 
pray,  is  the  fairest  of  women,  so  that  I  may  not  become  enamored 
of  one  of  the  women,  described  above,  &  be  contaminated  by  her. 


72  Letter  to  Mary  Elizabeth  Gerber. 

Hath  (is)  the  only  dove,  indeed,  flown  heavenward,  or,  if  she 
be  as  yet  on  earth,  tell  me,  in  which  forest  she  resteth,  and  in  which 
city  am  I  to  find  her  abode  ?  The  answer  is :  She  is,  indeed,  as  yet 
on  earth,  &  she  was  glorious  to  behold  in  the  days  of  the  Apostles. 
But,  after  she  had  given  birth  to  the  self-same  boy,  she  fled  into  the 
desert  (wilderness).  Apoc.  12.,  whence  she  shall  soon  ascend, 
leaning  upon  her  friend.  Cant.  8,  5.  (Song  of  Songs).  And 
when  she  shall  see  the  above-mentioned  daughters,  then  will  she 
carefully  prove  them ;  the  queens  themselves  &  the  concubines  will 
praise  her.  Cant.  6,  8.  (9).  Meseemeth,  however,  I  hear  my 
esteemed  Sister  say:  "This  answer  is  too  obscure  (dark)  ;  I  can  not 
understand  it.  Describe  unto  me  the  dove  in  her  true  form,  &  her 
feathers,  so  that  I  may  know  her.  Yes,  tell  me,  without  concealing 
anything,  her  place  of  abode;  for  I  shall  not  cease  from  seeking, 
until  that  I  may  have  found  her,  though  it  should  be  at  the  price  of 
my  goods  &  blood,  yea,  though  it  cost  me  my  life."  Answer:  May 
the  Lord  strengthen  her  in  her  resolution,  &  vouchsafe  that  this 
zeal  may  nevermore  become  extinguished  in  her,  but  ever  burn 
brightly!  I,  in  proportion  to  my  slight  ability,  shall  gladly  do  my 
best.  Nevertheless,  I  must,  esteemed  Sister,  overtly  tell  her;  that 
we  can  neither  find  nor  know  this  dove,  except  we  ourselves  be- 
come as  doves ,  &,  as  soon  as  we  be  such,  forthwith  we  fly  into  the 
wilderness  to  join  the  other.  This  wisdom  was  not  concealed  from 
David;  hence  his  yearning,  Psalm  55.  7.  8.  Would  that  I  had 
wings  as  doves,  that  I  might  fly  &  perchance  remain!  Lo,  then 
would  I  fly  afar  off  &  lodge  in  the  wilderness.  Selah.  But  whoso 
desire  to  fly,  if  he  fly  not  well,  will  inevitably  plunge  himself  into 
danger,  wherein  many  a  soul  perisheth.  Therefore,  the  Lord  saith 
in  Isaiah  c.  30,  15.  N.B.  Jer.  14,  10. 

If  ye  remained  still,  ye  would  be  aided;  by  being  quiet  &  by 
hoping,  ye  would  be  strong.  Hence  they  chatter  only  &  mourn 
with  Isaiah  (38,  15.  c.  59,  11.)  as  a  dove  day  &  night.  And  when 
their  eyes  have  become  as  doves'  eyes,  Cant.  1,  15.  c.  4,  1.  they  look 
only  at  their  beloved  &  hide  themselves  in  His  wounds,  as  in  the 
clefts  of  the  rock,  Cant.  2,  14.    To  the  end  that  they  may  not,  like 


The  Journal  of  Kelpius.  73 

the  foolish  &  decoyed  (or  timid,  without  heart)  dove  Ephraim,  now 
invoke  Egypt,  &  then  run  to  Assyria,  Hosea  7,  11.,  imploring  of 
these  spiritual,  of  those  corporal  (bodily)  food  &  aid,  for  there  be 
dove-vendors  as  well  as  oil-vendors,  to  whom  the  silly  doves  & 
virgins  run.  Oh,  he  that  rightly  knoweth  these,  in  verity  doth  he 
beware  of  them.  The  oil  signifieth  the  Spirit,  the  dove,  the  proper 
form  of  the  bride  of  the  lamb,  which  is  love.  Thus  there  are  to  be 
noted  especially,  according  to  the  number  of  the  five  prudent  &  five 
foolish  virgins,  five  things,  that  our  five  senses  be  not  injured  in 
their  maidenly,  dovelike  simplicity  in  Christ,  2,  Cor.  II,  3.  Matth. 
10.  16.,  namely:  1.  The  bridegroom,  2.  the  virgins,  3.  the  vendors, 
4.  the  oil,  5.  the  lamps.  But,  may  God  give  her  the  understanding 
of  the  spirit  of  Jesu  Christ,  that  she,  according  to  the  admonition 
of  Paul,  2.  Tim.  2,  15.  may  rightfully  divide  the  word  of  truth, 
&,  after  she  have  flowTn  from  the  filth  of  the  world  by  the  knowl- 
edge (recognition)  of  the  Crucified  for  her  sin,  2.  Pet.  2,  20.  nor, 
indeed,  purchase  the  oil  or  light  herself  for  the  bridegroom;  nor 
forthwith  regard  some,  though  they  have  oil  in  their  lamps,  as 
prudent  virgins,  because  these  also  have  arisen  at  midnight  of  the 
great  schism  (falling  off),  &  will  testify  to  the  universal  slumber 
in  sin  of  the  world.  Verily,  the  vendors  sit  not  only  at  Rome  &  in 
the  great  church,  where,  alas,  God  have  mercy!  there  is  little  oil, 
but,  indeed,  a  great,  yea  Egyptian  &  palpable  darkness.  Even  the 
little  foxes  spoil  the  vineyard,  even  men  catch  &  kill  the  doves. 

Should  the  virgins  that  are  cleansed  (washed  off)  by  the  blood 
of  the  lamb,  from  the  temeration  of  (with)  their  first  woman 
(wife),  Apoc.  1,  5.  chap.  7,  14.  &  who  now  follow  the  lamb,  Apoc. 
14,  4.,  again  be  defiled  with  other  women,  because  these  may  be 
more  comely  (beautiful)  than  the  first?  Let  that  (thought)  be 
far  removed !  Those,  however,  that  do  it,  will,  in  time,  find  their 
second  purification  more  difficult  than  the  first. 

Now,  my  dear  Sister  might  say,  "  Even  so  would  I,  as  a  chaste, 
pure  virgin,  follow  the  lamb,  the  spotless,  the  pure,  even  the  lamb 
of  God,  slain  for  us,  whithersoever  it  goeth,  because  I,  too,  have 
been  ransomed  by  it.    But  how  am  I  to  walk,  in  this  Sardian  disper- 


74  Letter  to  Mary  Elizabeth  Gerber. 

sion,  among  so  many  church  women,  that  I  may  not  soil  nor  be- 
draggle my  garments,  Rev.  3,  4.  c.  14,  4.?"  Answer:  If  she  be 
really  in  earnest,  &  if  she  be  conscious  of  a  manly,  strong  &  genuine 
(uncolored)  love  in  her  to  Jesus  &  His  bride,  yea,  if  such  a  simple 
love,  which  hateth  duplicity,  Mar.  6,  24.  2.  Cor.  6,  14,  15.  1. 
John  2.  15.  Gal.  1,  10.  Jac.  4,  4.  If  she  find,  I  say,  this  love  in 
her,  or  at  least  an  essential  longing  thereafter,  to  the  end  that  this 
love  may  once  be  perfected  in  her,  &  she  be  rooted  in  &  founded 
upon  this  love,  Eph.  3,  17.  Is  it  thus?  Come  on!  She  is  rapt  of 
the  dove-kind !  Nothing  can  harm  her  so  long  as  she  abide  therein, 
if  she  herself  forfeit  not  this  love,  either,  1.  By  slighting  the  same: 
or,  2.  By  breaking  forth  too  early.  In  order  to  prevent  this  the 
only  mean  is,  to  fly  into  the  desert  on  eagle's  wings,  where,  even 
now,  the  woman,  the  bride  of  the  lamb,  is  most  assuredly  nourished 
unto  her  time  appointed  (which  is  very  nigh  at  hand)  after  the 
expiration  of  which,  she  will  break  forth,  first,  as  the  dawn,  after- 
wards, fair  as  the  moon,  then,  chosen  as  the  sun,  but  finally,  ter- 
rible as  vanguards  of  hosts,  Cant.  6,  9.  "O  yes!  would  she  say, 
whoso  would  rightly  understand  this  all,  to  be  preserved  from  the 
dragon !  " 

But,  dear  Soul!  pray  do  not  entertain  melancholy  thoughts  con- 
cerning these  subjects,  nor  imagine  strange  things,  for  in  virginal 
love,  all  things  are  contained.  If  she  in  childlike  simplicity  weigh 
and  consider  all  that  I  have  already  said,  I  do  not  doubt,  but  that 
God  will  vouchsafe  prosperity  (thrivingness).  But,  if  she  under- 
stand all  in  its  first  sense,  then,  God  be  praised,  &  may  He  grant 
the  will  &  the  accomplishment.  But,  if  not?  Then,  let  her  be 
patient,  &  make  no  ado,  for  the  time  might  come,  when  it  would 
be  serviceable  unto  her.  I  must  now  hasten  towards  the  conclu- 
sion, yet  it  will  not,  as  I  hope,  be  disagreeable,  if  I  talk  a  little  more 
about  the  wilderness.  This  is  twofold:  1.  Corporal  &  2.  Spiri- 
tual. In  the  corporal  sense,  there  are  again  two  divisions  (yet  this 
sense  is  unfathomable).  Herein  it  signifieth  those  who  fled  into 
the  wilderness  before  the  great  apostasy  (falling  off),  soon  after  the 
times  of  the  Apostles   (whereof  the  life  of  the  primitive  fathers 


The  Journal  of  Kclp'ius.  75 

(forefathers)  is  worthy  of  perusal).  Whereof  in  Rev.  c.I2i//A  to  6. 
verse  2.  Here,  the  corporeal  wilderness  of  the  entire  Christianity, 
that  hath  fallen  off  (apostatized),  is  meant,  which  is  called  the 
great  city  of  Babylon  &  Egypt,  in  which  the  woman,  that  is,  all  the 
true  members  of  Christ  &  children  of  the  higher  (upper)  Jeru- 
salem are  hidden,  amongst  all  religions  &  stations  in  life,  as  well  as 
excluded,  Apoc.  12.  at  the  end  (for  desert  signifieth  as  much  as 
"hidden"  or  not  manifest).  Therefore,  we  ought  not  to  despise 
any  religion,  because  Christ  still  hath  in  all  His  true  members;  nor 
must  we  regard  any  religion  too  high,  as  hath  been  said  above  suf- 
ficiently. The  spiritual  sense,  however,  though  it,  too,  is  inex- 
haustible, may  be  subdivided  into  two  heads:  I.  In  regard  to  the 
whole  community  or  body  of  Christ,  which  we  shall,  for  the  present, 
not  discuss,  2.  With  regard  to  every  member  of  this  body  in  par- 
ticular. Just  as  now  the  entire  body  of  Christ  is  in  the  desert  or 
hidden,  so  also  is  every  member  or  soul  in  particular.  No  reason- 
ing, though  it  put  on  all  spectacles,  can  recognize  the  latter,  yet  may- 
be angered  at  them,  &  will  take  counsel  to  extirpate  these  hidden 
ones  of  the  Lord,  Psalm  83,  4.  Coloss.  3,  3.  But  the  Lord  hideth 
himself  secretly  in  his  tent  (pavilion).  But  as  regards  the  actual 
state  of  a  soul  in  the  wilderness,  I  cannot  at  present  describe.  If 
She,  dear  soul!  become  rightly  participant  of  the  dove-kind,  she 
will,  as  aforesaid,  also  obtain  eagle's  wings  to  fly  thereinto.  Then 
will  she  experience,  what  it  be,  to  chatter  (coo)  as  a  lonely  turtle- 
dove, day  and  night  for  the  longed  for  loved  one,  how,  meanwhile, 
the  loved  one  feed  her  with  the  hidden  manna,  Apoc.  2,  7.  How 
He  wTill  let  her  know  the  secret  &  hidden  wisdom,  Psalm  5,  8. 
Psalm  28,  14  .  .  .  which  God  ordained  (prescribed)  before  the 
world  .  .  .  splendor.  How  He  will  donate  unto  her  His  great, 
secret  goods  (treasures),  which  are  better  than  life,  Psalm  31,  20. 
How  He  will  teach  her  to  know  the  hidden  God  &  Saviour,  who 
leadeth  His  saints  so  wonderfully,  Isaiah  45,  15.  &  the  Father  who 
seeth  in  secret  Matth.  6,  6.  She  will  experience,  how  this  friend 
of  her  soul  sweeten  the  bitter  waters  of  tribulations  and  sufferings 
in  march  through  the  wood  of  life  &  mild  yoke  of  His  cross,  Exod. 
15.  Matth.  11. 


76  Letter  to  Mary  Elizabeth  Gerber. 

How  the  hard  rock  in  Horeb  becomes  (is  transformed  into)  a 
fresh  fountain  of  the  water  of  life  by  knocking  with  faith,  Exod. 
17,  I.  Cor.  10,  4.  How  during  the  day,  from  out  the  cloud  that 
guideth  her,  so  many  droplets  of  grace  (mercy)  of  heavenly  dew, 
will  fall  upon  her  as  a  baptism  of  grace.  This  will  be  unto  her  a 
day  of  joy  &  shouting,  when  the  Holy  Ghost  shall  stir  in  her  heart 
&  move  the  waters,  so  that  the  fount  shall  be  poured  forth  from 
out  her  eyes  in  tears  of  pure  joy.  Oh,  blessed  baptism  of  water! 
Who  would  not  daily,  yea,  hourly,  be  baptized  thus!  But  there 
followeth  also  a  night  upon  this  day,  wherein  the  fiery  column,  as 
God  in  the  east,  will  preserve  her,  which  is  the  baptism  in  fire  of 
the  Son,  until  that,  at  last,  the  old  birth,  bred  in  Egypt,  and 
longing  for  the  Egyptian  pots  of  lust,  shall  completely  die  out 
together  with  Moses.  Then  will  the  true  Jonah- Jesus  lead  the 
new  birth,  that  was  born  in  the  desert,  &  is  now  grown  to  the 
age  of  manhood,  then  will  he  lead  this  birth  to  the  taking  of  the 
new  Canaan,  yea,  lead  her  thereinto.  Oh,  who  would  not  long  for 
this  desert  (wilderness)  !  which  is  so  joyful,  &  standeth  so  glad- 
some &  bloometh  as  the  lilies!  Yes,  it  bloometh  and  standeth  re- 
joicing, for  the  splendor  of  Lebanon  is  given  unto  her  (the  wilder- 
ness). The  ornament  (excellency)  of  Carmel  &  Saron  (Sharon), 
Isaiah,  35,  1.  Even  the  most  bitter  myrrhs  here  contain  the  most 
hidden  sweetness.  Even  the  heaviest  burthen  is  light,  &  the  hardest 
yoke  is  mild  (gentle).  The  deepest  sadness  hath  hidden  in  itself, 
the  inmost  joy;  darkness  is  as  light,  Psalm  139,  12.  Here,  dying 
is  to  become  alive ;  poverty  is  the  greatest  wealth ;  hunger  &  thirst 
are  as  the  most  longed  for  food  &  most  refreshing  drink;  to  be 
nothing  and  to  become  nothing,  is  to  inherit  all  things;  to  have 
nothing  is  to  possess  all  things ;  to  be  weak,  is  the  greatest  strength ; 
unrest  is  the  securest  peace ;  no  trouble,  no  work  tires,  for  the  more 
one  works,  the  stronger  one  becomes,  &  yet  the  feeblest  weakness 
hath  hidden  in  itself  the  greatest  strength.  From  out  such  desert 
there  shall  arise  (be  built)  the  fairest  city,  namely,  the  New  Jeru- 
salem. Now,  then,  Esteemed  Sister,  are  you  willing  to  come  into 
the  wilderness,  &  are  ye  pleased  to  flee  thereinto  ?    Then  it  is  neces- 


The  Journal  of  Kelpius.  77 

sary  to  understand  these  things  spiritually  &  not  corporally,  because 
all  things  gross  be  herein.  Be  their  names  what  they  will,  there  are 
no  wildernesses  in  the  primitive  (first)  spiritual  understanding, 
but  inhabited  cities,  full  of  temples  &  altars.  If  she  be  willing  to 
follow  the  lamb,  whithersoever  it  goeth,  then  let  her  not  follow  the 
women,  because  one  is  only  contaminated  with  these.  Would* t 
thou  convert  thyself,  then  convert  thyself  unto  me,  saith  the  Lord, 
Jer.  4,  1.  If  she  have  the  spirit  of  the  Lord  as  her  teacher  &  master, 
she  must,  indeed,  be  very  desirous  (studious)  if  she  be  not  content 
with  Him.  But  if  she  hear  Him  in  a  friend  of  the  bridegroom, 
He  will  always  direct  her  to  the  lamb,  as  John,  &  bid  neither  him- 
self, nor  any  one  else  to  follow.  But  he  that  followeth  after  the 
lamb,  must  not  run  before  it,  lest  the  wolf  catch  him.  To  follow 
Him  is  the  surest  way;  to  remain  with  Him  is  the  best  security; 
&  on  His  pasture  there  is  found  the  best  food.  And  this  she  may 
do,  if  she,  according  to  His  own  admonition,  Matth.  6,  6.  remain 
at  home,  bodily  &  spiritually,  go  into  her  chamber,  lock  the  door, 
&  pray  to  her  Father  in  secret,  &  her  Father,  who  seeth  in  secret, 
will  reward  her  openly.     Amen. 

With  cordial  greetings,  I  am  ever  ready  to  serve  you  in  Christ, 
&  I  shall  be  happy  to  hear  that  you  are  prospering.  The  Lord,  our 
King,  grant  her  His  benison  from  Zion,  to  the  end  that  she  may 
see  Jerusalem,  her  salvation,  throughout  her  life. 

J.  Kelpius. 

P.S.  Many  more  things  could  I  write,  but,  how  is  it  possible 
to  describe  the  inexpressible  with  pen  &  ink!  The  Lord,  however, 
unite  our  hearts  by  His  spirit,  that  we,  in  united  harmony,  may 
grow  together  in  one  faith  &  knowledge  of  the  Son  of  God,  &  ever 
become  a  more  perfect  man,  who  is  to  be  in  the  measure  of  the 
perfect  age  of  Christ  (see  Eph.  4,  14,  15,  16).  Thus  we  shall, 
though  absent  in  body,  in  the  selfsame  spirit  be  present  one  to 
another  &  offer  up  one  &  the  same  petition,  prayer,  intercession  & 
thanksgiving  through  the  hand  of  the  Mediator  J.  C.  H. 


78  Letter  to  Mary  Elizabeth  Gerber. 

Buntchy  sends  his  best  regards.  Both  he  &  H.  Matthey  rejoice 
exceedingly  because  of  her  conversion  to  (growth  in)  Christ. 
These  men  came  to  us  about  a  year  ago,  &  have,  in  this  short  time, 
increased  powerfully  in  the  renunciation  of  the  cares  of  this  world 
&  the  allurements  thereof.  May  the  Lord  strengthen  &  confirm 
these  dear  souls  furthermore.  They  live  amongst  us,  less  scattered, 
&  with  us,  they  long,  that,  indeed,  our  Arch-Shepherd  would  bring 
together  the  scattered  children  of  God  through  the  power  (by 
virtue)  of  His  suffering  (passion).  (John  u,  52).  Jerusalem, 
indeed,  is  being  built  in  this  sorrowful  time,  whilst  we  hold  the 
stones  wrought  with  the  one  hand,  &  hold  the  weapon  in  the  other, 
Nehem.  4,  17.  And  the  stones,  each  one  for  itself  are  prepared 
outside  of  Jerusalem.  Those  that  are  perfected  await  the  perfec- 
tion of  the  rest,  in  whom  the  corner-stone  himself,  the  first-born, 
our  Immanuel,  doth  wait,  Heb.  10,  13. 

Whence  the  long-suffering  of  the  great  Architect,  our  God,  yea, 
of  our  Father  in  Christ  becomes  apparent,  who  causeth  our  breth- 
ren, afore  perfected  toward  salvation — to  wait,  that  they  might  not 
be  perfected  without  us,  Heb.  11,  40.  When,  however,  the  last 
stone  shall  have  been  perfected,  then  will  the  edifice  suddenly  appear 
without  stroke  of  hammer,  without  tumult  &  shouting,  appear  in 
its  divine  splendor,  beauty  &  magnificence.  Therefore,  beloved 
soul,  let  us  patiently  (meekly)  suffer  chastening,  to  the  end  that  we 
obtain  His  sanctification  (whereof  read  Heb.  12.)  without  which 
no  one  shall  see  God.  In  my  epistle  I  have  answered  her  request 
to  a  sufficiency,  but  hath  it  been  to  her  edification?  Should  be 
pleased  to  hear  hereof.  But,  if  she  find  therein  ought  that  may 
cause  her  some  doubt,  scruple,  or  the  like,  or  be  it  that  aught  may 
be  too  obscure  or  unintelligible,  yea,  if  she  would  know  aught  more, 
I  am,  as  a  fellow-servant,  ready  to  serve  her  according  to  the  ability 
which  God  granteth.  For  it  also  pleaseth  God  to  work  even  by 
means  (&  indeed,  oftentimes  by  very  weak  ones,  of  which  I  am 
probably  one  of  the  most  inconsiderable).  Just  as  He  hath  done 
by  your  soul  through  one  dear  friend  Chawiley  (?)  though  he  is 
joined  unto  a  certain  congregation,  nevertheless  he  hath  somewhat 
of  the  universal  charity  (love),  whereof  for  the  present  (I  will 


The  Journal  of  Kelpius. 


79 


speak  no  more) — thus  he  hath  been  instrumental,  largely,  to  the 
first  awakening  of  her  soul.  But  now,  may  the  faithful  Arch- 
Shepherd  &  Bishop  (Overseer)  of  our  salvation  give  her  His 
spirit  Himself  towards  a  union  (a  growth  or  growing  to)  &  com- 
plete perfection.     Amen. 

I  remain,  Esteemed  Sister, 

Your  faithful  brother,  J.  K. 


Book  Plate  of  Benjamin  Furley,  the  Rotterdam  Merchant. 


VII. 

LETTER  TO  DR.  JOHANNES  FABRICIUS 
(ALTDORFINUS),  GERMANY. 

To  Dr.  Fabricius,  Prof.  Theol.  at  Helmstadt: 

July  23rd,  1705. 
—^  i  ^  .OUR  Magnificence: — The  joy  your  letter  afforded  me 
f  Mt"^J  I  3Lm  unable,  at  present,  to  describe.  I  did  behold  in 
0M  \t  it,  as  in  a  mirror,  the  sincerity  and  uprightness  of  my 
I  jTW  good  old  master,  Dr.  Fabricius.  What  dear  Mr. 
\jrJ  Ingelstaetter,  evrettore  dei  Falkein,  reported,  is  true, 
^^  so  far  as  appertaineth  to  the  principal  point,  namely, 
that  I  have  not  become  a  Quaker.  Such  an  idea  hath  never  come 
into  my  mind,  albeit  I  love  them  from  my  inmost  soul,  even  as  I  do 
all  other  sects  that  approach  and  call  themselves  Christ's,  the  Bap- 
tists even  not  excluded,  and,  with  Peter,  I  have  found  out,  in  deed 
and  truth,  that  God  regardeth  not  the  person,  but  in  all  sorts  of 
work  and  religion.  He  that  feareth  Him,  and  doeth  what  is  right, 
is  agreeable  to  Him.  I  could  report  of  magnalities  (if  space  per- 
mitted) which  this  great  God  hath  wrought  even  amongst  the 
Indians,  whereof  there  is  some  printed  notice  in  the  Memoirs  of 
the  Phil.  Soc.  in  London,  and  how  they  are  brought  to  grief  now 
and  then  by  blind-mouthed  Christians.  Yet  one  instance  I  will 
report,  as  abashed  Sir  W.  Penn,  when  he  was  here  last,  Anno  1701 
(if  I  remember  rightly)  when  he  wanted  to  preach  to  them  of 
faith  in  the  God  of  Heaven  and  Earth,  at  their  Kintika  (thus  they 
call  their  festivity).  After  having  listened  to  him  with  great  pa- 
tience ;  they  answered :  "  You  bid  us  believe  in  the  Creator  and  Pre- 
server of  Heaven  and  Earth,  though  you  do  not  believe  in  Him 
yourself,  nor  trust  in  Him.    For  you  have  now  made  your  own  the 

80 


THE    PENNSYLVANIA-GERMAN    SOCIETY. 


.Ai  td  0W1  ix  ii  s 

PORTRAIT  OF  MAGISTER  FABRICIUS. 

TUTOR    AND    FRIEND   OF    KELPIUS. 

FROM    AN   OLD   COPPERPLATE    AT    HELMSTADT. 


The  Journal  of  Kelpius.  8 1 

land  we  held  in  common  amongst  ourselves  and  our  friends.  You 
now  take  heed,  night  and  day,  how  you  may  keep  it,  so  that  no  one 
may  take  it  from  you.  Indeed,  you  are  anxious  even  beyond  your 
span  of  life,  and  divide  it  among  your  children.  This  manor  for 
this  child,  that  manor  for  that  child.  But  we  have  faith  in  God  the 
Creator  and  Preserver  of  Heaven  and  Earth.  He  preserveth  the 
sun,  He  hath  preserved  our  fathers  so  many  moons  (for  they  count 
not  by  years).  He  preserveth  us,  and  we  believe  and  are  sure  that 
He  will  also  preserve  our  children  after  us,  and  provide  for  them, 
and  because  we  believe  this,  we  bequeath  them  not  a  foot  of  land." 
Whenever  we  shall  be  made  worthy  to  see  the  many  and  varied 
dwellings  in  our  Father's  house  (for  who  would  be  so  simple,  to  say 
these  dwellings  were  all  of  one  sort),  it  is  my  belief  we  shall  then 
see  that  the  same  Architect  cared  little  about  our  common  formula 
and  systematic  architecture.  And,  I  trow,  many  disciples  of  Moses 
and  Christ,  when  in  want  or  dying,  might  be  glad  if  they  shall  be 
received  in  any  of  the  huts,  described  above,  by  him,  whom  they 
perhaps  accused  of  heresy  in  this  life.  I  hope  that  God,  who 
maketh  happy  both  man  and  beast,  and  hath  mercy  on  all  his 
children,  will,  at  last,  make  all  men,  as  died  in  Adam,  alive  in  the 
other.  But  life  and  death  are  further  distinguished  from  change, 
so  that  those  that  have  been  made  to  live  in  Christ,  must  be  de- 
livered from  the  second  death.  I  know  that  some  cranks,  spiriti 
Divines,  trouble  and  crucify  themselves  concerning  this  Lexion 
theologiae  (as  they  call  it),  but  especially  the  Reprobratites,  be- 
cause these  (Restitution  of  all  things)  cancel  and  crucify  their  dog- 
mas so  very  frequently.  Meseems,  however,  their  little  faith  hath 
its  origin  in  the  misunderstanding  of  the  word  Eternity,  which 
neither  in  Greek  nor  in  Hebrew  denoteth  a  time  but  an  end,  but 
rather  the  contrary  as  they  have  both  singular  and  plural  numbers, 
and  Paul  even  speaketh  of  the  birth  of  Eternities.  But  just  as  the 
luminaries  of  the  firmament  are  the  dimensions  of  our  time,  so  it 
seemeth  that  the  Eternities  have,  also,  their  dimensions,  which,  how- 
ever, those  (sensual  Man's  having  not  the  spirit)  cannot  well  see, 
wherefore  allowance  must  be  made,  if  they,  perchance,  judge  hereof 


82  Letter  to  Dr.  Johannes  Fabricius. 

as  the  blind  do  of  colors.  But  if  the  Lord  from  out  his  infinite 
plentitude  should  give  them  the  spiritual  mind,  they  will,  no  doubt, 
judge  otherwise.  How  wroth  I  formerly  would  wax  toward  those 
who  would  not  accept  the  sayings  of  Schertzer  or  Calov  as  Oracles. 
And  I  trust  in  the  infinite  mercy  of  God  (and  your  Magnificence 
also  had  great  patience  with  me  and  to  me,  indeed,  publicly,  whereof 
I  have  since  often  been  ashamed,  but  admired  your  Magnificence's 
humility  and  prudence),  why  should  I  then  look  with  evil  eye  upon 
my  blind  neighbor,  because  God  hath,  perchance,  showed  me  before- 
hand the  abundance  of  His  Mercy,  by  opening  mine  eyes  before 
theirs?  Not  to  speak  of,  that  I  see  but  little  fragments  of  the 
fragmentary  work  and  the  men  of  the  creation  as  trees!  But,  es- 
pecially, because  I  hope  to  become  one  in  God  through  Christ  both 
with  those  who  do  not  yet  see  as  I  do,  and  with  those  that  see  much 
better  and  farther  than  I. 

Although  I  proffer  this  common  love  in  the  brotherly  love,  yet 
the  brotherly  love,  the  Philadelphiae,  remains  with  me  on  a  firm 
foundation ;  whence  I  was  wronged,  if  I  have  been  called  a  Quaker 
on  account  of  the  former  (common  love),  or  even  furthermore,  a 
Papist,  as  has  been  done  by  the  Quakers  in  this  country,  as  I  was 
unwilling  to  enter  the  married  state,  however  advantageous  the 
connection,  wherefore  I  was  either  a  Jesuit  or  an  Indian  Deitist, 
although,  by  the  grace  of  God,  it  is  easy  for  me  to  be  judged  from 
a  human  standpoint.  Nevertheless  I  have  mercy  on  such  untimely 
judges  and  condemners  who  are  oblivious  of  the  express  prohibition 
of  Christ  and  Paul,  though  professing  to  be  his  disciples;  There- 
fore I  can  harmonize  as  little  with  the  canon  of  the  Anglical 
Church  (Confession),  as  with  the  anathema  of  the  Council  of 
Trent,  though  having  no  part  in  the  errors  mentioned.  To  the 
honor  of  the  Anglical  Church,  I  must  confess,  that  they  practice 
the  Doctrine  of  universal  grace  much  better  than  the  Lutherans. 
Their  39  Theses,  or  Articles  (I  had  almost  said  40  less  one)  are 
so  mild  and  general,  that  they  can  be  accepted  by  any  one,  who  is 
not  too  narrow-minded  and  of  too  little  faith.  If  anyone  amongst 
them  have  but  a  private  view,  as,  for  instance,  concerning  the 


The  Journal  of  K el 'pins. 


83 


universal  restitution,  the  Millennium,  the  Metemptosis,  etc.,  he  is, 
on  that  account,  not  excommunicated  forthwith,  especially,  if  he 
make  them  but  serviceable  to  the  practice  of  piety,  not  for  the  insti- 
tuting of  Sects,  although  they  deem  the  Quaker  Sect  the  last,  and 
that  the  Lord  would  now  soon  come  to  His  Temple,  forasmuch  as 
the  opinion  concerning  the  Millennium  is  quite  correct  both 
amongst  them  and  the  Presbyterians,  or  Calvinists,  both  in  Old 
and  New  England,  as  well  as  here,  and  even  amongst  the  Quakers 
themselves  a  few  years  ago.  It  is  consequently  wrong  to  place  all 
these  into  one  category.  The  majority  of  them  are  just  as  worldly 
in  their  opinions,  as  any  of  the  great  divisions  may  be,  and  if  all 
their  members  should  be  subjected  to  a  particular  examination  on 
some  points  of  Religion — the  result  would  be,  as  amongst  others 
— so  many  heads,  so  many  opinions,  as  I  have  found  out  in  mine 
own  experience.     (Here  the  letter  ends  abruptly). 


IELICI&  EPHEAXENSE^ 


Vignette  from  Title  Page  of  the  "  Paradisches  Wuxderspiel, 
Ephrata,  1761. 


VIII. 

LETTER  TO  HENRICH  JOH.  DEICHMAN, 
LONDON,  ENGLAND. 

Y  health  is  still  precarious,  though  considerably 
improved,  God  be  praised.  All  of  us  are  often- 
times exposed  to  severe  temptations,  yet  our  faith- 
ful Helper  is  ever  near  and  often  granteth  us  a 
splendid  victory  and  bringeth  it  to  pass,  that  we 
rule  in  the  midst  of  our  enemies.  Much  could 
be  said  on  this  subject:  consider  only,  how  Moses  ruled  over  Pha- 
raoh in  Egypt,  before  gaining  a  complete  victory,  enabling  him  to 
sing  his  song  of  triumph  at  the  Red  Sea:  consider,  how  David,  who 
first  was  great  in  Babel,  just  as  Moses  in  Egypt,  ruled  in  the  midst 
of  Babel  over  Bel  and  Betraies,  before  he  under  David  and  Cyu 
(Cyrus?)  assisted  in  the  building  of  the  temple:  consider,  how  Christ 
ruled  in  the  midst  of  death,  before  he  rose.  Think  of  Paul,  a  captive 
in  Rome,  David  in  the  desert,  etc.  Thus  also  the  new  man  ruleth 
in  us,  while  yet  he  is  surrounded  by  the  old  Adam,  the  sins,  and  death. 
At  the  sea  of  glass,  he  will  sing  the  song  of  triumph  of  Moses  and 
of  the  Lamb.  Therefore  we  rejoice  and  are  of  good  cheer,  because 
we  know,  that  the  complete  victory  will  finally  be  of  God  and  the 
Lamb,  and,  therefore,  ours.  The  new  Adam  within  us,  must, 
according  to  the  prototype  of  the  old  one,  sleep  and  be  still,  until 
his  bride  be  fully  built  up  and  complete  of  his  flesh  and  bone.  O, 
how  great  will  his  joy  and  ours  be,  if  ...  he  now  shall  awake 
and  recognize  and  name  us  as  his  own.  Yea,  when  he  shall  have 
left  his  father  and  his  mother,  and  shall  cleave  to  us,  because  he  is 
waiting  therefor;  why  should  we  not  wait  a  little  for  the  consum- 
mation, because  we  shall  be  rewarded  so  richly  therefor?  How 
many  have  awakened  love  too  soon,  hindering  thereby  their  growth 

84 


The  Journal  of  Kelpius. 


85 


unto  the  fulness  of  their  stature;  how  many  have,  with  their 
strong  spirit,  striven  too  impetuously  to  attain  something  of  the 
spiritual  gifts  of  their  inheritance,  which  they  afterward  squan- 
dered, and  became  poorer  than  they  were  at  the  beginning.  Ex- 
amples, such  as  these,  we  have  in  our  days  too,  yea,  even  among  our 
house-mates,  who  serve  to  teach  us  to  endure  in  blessed  waiting 
and  resting  in  the  will  of  God,  until  the  destined  end,  meted  out 
by  His  providence,  arrive.  O,  how  this  watching  and  waiting  is 
sweetened,  in  the  mean  time,  for  the  humble,  childlike  souls  that 
yrarn  for  the  holy  will  of  their  Father  only,  in  so  much  that  they 
would,  indeed,  wait  forever,  if  their  beloved  Father  would  thus 
have  it.  And  in  this  wise,  they  constantly  become  more  humble 
and  diminutive  in  their  own  estimation,  in  so  much,  that  they 
finally  deem  themselves  wholly  unworthy  of  the  revelation  of  their 
Friend  and  Bridegroom,  whom  they  love  so  tenderly  and  for  whom 
they  yearn  so  eagerly;  for  the  more  they  contemplate  themselves, 
the  more  do  they  hate  and  despise  their  own  self;  but  if  they  rise 
above  themselves,  they  become  entirely  oblivious  of  their  own  self. 
And  then  their  salvation  is  nearest,  because  they  are  farthest  from 
their  own  self,     &c. 


IX. 

LETTER  TO  HESTER  PALMER,  AT  FLUSHING, 
LONG  ISLAND. 

A.  1706  d.  25,  Mayi.1 

My  dearly  beloved  in  our  Immanuel  Jesus  the  Messiah: 

The  Son  of  God  our  Saviour. 

4^A  EING  presented  lately  with  a  letter  of  yours,  directed 

|    W     to  our  beloved  Friend  M B ,2  I 

jfl  I  ri      found  in  the  P.  S.  that  the  remembrance  of  mine  was 

PJpB  n°t  yet  slipt  out  of  your  Minde,  insomuch  that  you 
^^r*  desired  to  see  a  few  lines  from  my  hand,  which  De- 
sire is  an  evident  sign  to  me  that  the  said  remem- 
brance is  in  Love  and  in  the  Truth. 

Assure  yourself  that  it  is  with  no  less  Fervency  on  my  Side,  but 
I  finde  as  yet  a  double  wall  between  us,  which  indeed  seems  to  stop 
the  current  of  this  firey  love-dream  of  which  no  more  at  present, 
least  we  should  embolden  ourselves  to  break  through  before  the 
time  appointed  by  Him,  who  nourisheth  the  Woman  in  the  Wilder- 
ness (Rev.  12,  14).  And  since  our  Discourse  broke  just  as  we 
was  about  this  matter,  Viz:— THE  THREEFOLD  WILDER- 
NESS STATE,  I'll  venture  upon  your  Patience  a  few  lines  Con- 
cerning this  subject,  adding  the  Third  State  in  the  Wilderness, 
also  having  Confidence  in  your  good  Acceptance  since  you  have  in 
a  manner  bidden  me  to  write  and  I  finding  no  better  Subject  than 
to  begin  where  we  left  it. 

Of  the  first  we  did  discourse  somewhat,  viz: — Of  the  Barren 


1  Verbatim,  ei  liter atem. 

2  The  identity  of  this  friend  has  not  been  discovered. 

86 


The  Journal  of  Kelpius.  87 

Wilderness,  and  as  we  was  beginning  the  second,  viz: — Of  the 
Fruitfull  Wilderness,  we  was  interrupted. 

The  first  hath  a  respect  upon  the  Old  Birth,  like  as  Ye  second 
upon  the  New.  These  two  run  parallel  until  the  First  dieth,  and 
then  the  Second  is  set  at  Liberty.  The  first  is  begotten  in  Egypt, 
and  then  arriveth  to  its  manhood,  and  being  led  out  of  Egypt  falls 
and  Dieth  in  the  Wilderness.  The  Second  is  also  begotten  in  E^rypt 
but  is  educated,  and  arriveth  to  its  manhood  in  the  Wilderness, 
and  after  the  death  of  the  First  enters  Caanan.  The  First  seeth 
indeed  the  stretched  out  Arm  of  God  in  Egypt  as  well  as  in  the 
Wilderness,  but  murmurs,  provokes  and  tempts  God  and  limiteth 
the  Holy  one  in  Israel,  alwais  turning  back  with  its  Heart  lusting 
after  Egypt.  The  Second  seeth  God  and  its  life  is  preserved,  its 
face  alwais  turned  Caananwarts  and  its  Heart  with  Joshua  and 
Caleb  (Joshua  signifleth  Aid,  Salvation,  Conservation;  Caleb,  full 
of  heart,  courageous,  undaunted,  faithfull)  stands  faithfull  and 
seeth  Ye  salvation  of  God,  being  rilled  with  the  fervent  and  only 
desire  of  attaining  the  same.  The  first  is  in  continual  fear  of 
Death,  and  what  he  feareth  cometh  upon  him  (Num.  14,  28;  Prov. 
10,  24).  The  Second  is  undaunted  and  liveth  (Num.  14,  30,  31) 
and  puts  his  feet  upon  the  necks  of  his  enemies  (Jos.  10,  24;  Psal. 
94,  13).  The  Second  deriveth  its  origen  from  the  First,  and  dying 
to  this  riseth  and  liveth  in  God :  The  First  wThen  He  dyeth,  liveth 
in  the  Second  (This  is  a  great  Mystery  and  wants  an  Explana- 
tion else  it  may  be  misconstrued,  but  I  hope  j'ou  are  no  Stranger 
to  it).  The  Second  liveth  under  Moses  as  well  as  the  First  as 
long  as  Moses  liveth  (Gal.  4,  1 ;  Rom.  7),  but  is  hidd  inward;  by 
chance  he  is  called  the  inward  Man  in  the  Tabernacle,  from  which 
He  never  departeth  (Exod.  33,  11).  But  when  Moses  Dyeth  the 
New  Man,  being  arrived  now  to  his  Manhood,  appears  from  his 
inward  state  outwardly  to  the  Terror  of  his  enemies  (see  of  this 
coming  forth  Cant.  3,  6;  and  8,  5)  of  Whose  Land  he  taketh  Pos- 
session (Num.  27,  15;  Deut.  3,  21-end).  I  will  not  draw  the 
Parallism  further,  since  a  word  to  the  Wise  is  enough.  And  since 
we  have  orally  conferred  of  the  First  state,  viz: — of  Ye  Barren 


88  Letter  to  Hester  Palmer. 

Wilderness,  let  us  insist  a  little  upon  the  Mystery  of  the  Second. 
In  which  Fruitfull  Wilderness  we  enjoy  the  leading  Cloud  by 
day,  out  of  which  so  many  drops  of  the  heavenly  Dew  (Psal.  33, 
3)  as  a  Baptism  of  Grace  upon  us  do  fall.  This  is  a  Day  of  Joy 
and  triumph,  when  the  Holy  Ghost  moves  and  stirreth  the  waters 
in  our  Hearts  so  that  this  living  spring  diffuseth  it  self  through  the 
Eyes  in  a  sweet  and  Joyfull  Gush  of  Tears :  O  Thou  blessed  water- 
baptism,  who  would  not  desire  to  be  Baptized  with  thee  every  day. 
But  there  followeth  a  night  also  upon  this  Day,  wherein  neverthe- 
less the  Pillar  of  Fire  is  our  Guide,  refining  us  as  Gold  in  the 
Furnace,  which  is  the  Baptism  of  Fire  of  Ye  Son,  and  is  indeed 
terrible  to  the  old  Birth,  but  bright  and  light  to  the  New;  for  she 
learneth  by  this  to  be  resigned  and  say  '  Not  my  will,  O  Father ! 
but  Thine  be  done.'  Thus  our  Tears  are  our  Meat,  yea,  our 
Manna,  not  only  by  Day  but  also  in  the  darkest  Night  (Psal.  42, 
3;  80,  5).  The  most  bitter  Myrrh  (which  conditeth  the  old  man 
in  his  Grave)  hath  the  most  sweetest  Sweet  hid  in  herself.  For 
the  Tree  of  the  Cross  and  the  Yoak  of  the  Beloved  doth  but 
sweeten  the  bitter  water  of  Affliction  and  sufferings  in  Mara  (Exod. 
15;  Matt.  11).  The  darkest  sorrow  contains  in  herself  the  most 
inward  Joy  and  Gladness  (2  Cor.  6,  10).  Darkness  is  like  the 
Light  (Psal.  139,  12).  To  dye  is  in  this  pleasant  Wilderness  to 
grow  lively.  Poverty  maketh  rich.  Hunger  is  the  most  desirable 
Meat,  and  Thirst  the  most  refreshing  Nectar  (Math.  5,  6).  To 
be  nothing  is  to  be  Deified  (2  Pet.  1,  4).  To  have  nothing  is  to 
enjoy  all  (2  Cor.  12,  10).  To  become  weak  is  the  greatest 
strength. 

Disquietness  is  the  surest  Peace  (2  Cor.  7,  10).  No  work  no 
Pain  doth  tire,  for  the  more  we  work  the  stronger  we  grow  (Gen. 
32,  24),  and  yet  we  do  experimentally  find  that  the  greatest  weak- 
ness hath  the  greatest  strength  hid  in  herself  (Cant.  2,  5).  Oh 
everblessed  Wilderness  thou  rejoyceth  and  blossometh  as  a  Rose! 
yea,  thou  blossometh  abundantly  and  rejoyceth  even  with  Joy  and 
Singing.  The  glory  of  Libanon  is  given  unto  thee,  the  Excellency 
of  Carmel  and  Sharon!     In  thee  we  see  the  Glory  of  our  Lord, 


The  Journal  of  Kelpius.  89 

and  the  Excellency  of  our  God !  In  thee  our  weak  Hands  are 
Strengthened  and  our  feeble  Knees  confirmed  (Esa.  35,  1).  Who 
would  not  desire  to  be  a  Denizon  in  Thee?  Who  would  not  de- 
light to  trace  thy  Solitary  and  lonesom  walks?  O!  ye  Inhabi- 
tants of  this  happy  desolation,  bless  and  kiss  that  gentle  hand  of  that 
Divine  Sophia  who  at  the  first  did  so  wittily  allure  you,  when  she 
intended  to  bring  you  into  this  Wilderness,  for  to  speak  to  your 
Heart,  in  order  to  search  and  trie  the  same!  Do  not  forsake  her, 
untill  she  hath  given  you  from  hence  your  Possessions,  and  the 
hindermost  Valley  for  the  opening  of  your  understanding  (Hos. 
2,  14,  15,  according  to  the  LXX  Achor  signifying  hindermost, 
farthest,  comp.  Exod.  3,  I,  Syrach  4,  17-28). 

This  Valley  of  Achor,  or  hindermost  Cavity,  leads  me  to  the 
consideration  of  a  Wilderness  yet  of  a  higher  (further)  degree 
than  the  Second,  which  it  exceeds  by  so  much  as  the  second  does 
the  First.  We  may  call  it  the  WILDERNESS  OF  THE 
ELECT  OF  GOD,  as  being  traced  but  by  few,  and  none  but 
peculiarly  chosen  Vessels  of  Honour  and  Glory. 

I  shall  bring  but  four  Instances  for  this,  Two  out  of  Ye  Old 
and  Two  out  of  the  New  Test.  The  first  is  Moses,  that  great 
Prophet  and  mediator  between  God  and  the  Israel,  according  to 
the  Flesh,  who,  as  the  Acts  2,  7,  give  us  to  understand,  had  a  Reve- 
lation that  He  should  deliver  Israel  out  of  Egypt,  whilst  He  was 
yet  in  the  court  of  Pharao;  which,  as  he  would  put  in  Execution, 
miscarried  of  the  Enterprise  through  the  fault  of  the  People, 
whereupon  he  fled  into  the  Wilderness,  where  he  remained  40 
years.  What  He  did  there  is  nowhere  described,  only  that  towards 
the  end  of  the  40  years  He  led  his  Flock  to  the  Backside  (or 
rather  to  the  hindermost  or  furthest)  Desert.  And  there  the 
Angel  of  the  L(ord)  appeared  unto  him  out  of  a  burning  Bush, 
in  order  to  send  him  in  embassage  to  King  Pharao.  But  so  for- 
ward as  Moses  was  at  the  first  to  go,  when  he  had  got  only  an 
Intimation  or  Manifestation  or  Revelation  or  Inspiration  or  Mo- 
tion (or  what  we  may  call  it)  of  what  He  now  was  to  do,  without 
any   express    Commission    and    Credentials    (Viz.    Miricales    and 


90  Letter  to  Hester  Palmer. 

Signs).  So  backward  was  he  now  to  go,  when  he  got  express  orders 
and  extraordinary  Credentials,  so  that  we  may  easily  find  what  he 
had  done  during  the  40  years  in  the  Wilderness  having  the  two 
extremes,  viz.,  his  Presumption  and  fervent  Zeal  at  first  in  which 
he  killed  the  Egyptian,  and  his  great  Humility  and  meekness  at  last 
when  God  would  send  him,  which  last  is  Symbolically  typified  by 
his  leading  his  Sheep  by  Ye  Backside  or  deepest  of  the  Wilderness. 
Whereas  formerly  when  his  firy  Quality  was  not  yet  thoroughly 
tinctured  and  Metamorphosed  into  the  Lamlike  nature,  He  led  his 
flock,  but,  as  it  were,  on  the  Brim  and  foreside  of  the  Wilderness, 
of  which  I  had  more  to  say,  but  lest  the  Letter  should  exceed  its 
bounds,  I  must  hasten  to  the  next  Instance,  which  is  Fleyah  and 
runs  into  many  things  paralell  to  the  first  Witness.  Read  the  his- 
tory 1  Kings  6,  29.  He  was  a  very  zealous  and  had  slain  the  Priests 
of  Baal,  as  Moses  had  the  Egyptian.  They  did  seek  his  life,  as  the 
Egyptians  did  Moses  his.  He  made  his  escape  and  fled  into  the 
Wilderness  as  Moses  did.  Moses  his  40  years  was  turned  to  him  in 
40  days,  He  came  at  last  into  the  Hindermost  Wilderness  to  the 
Mount  of  God  Horeb,  the  very  same  where  Moses  saw  the  Vision, 
And  here  God  appeared  unto  him,  and  gave  him  a  gentle  Repri- 
mende  as  touching  his  Zeal  and  Presumtions.  Shewing  him  withal, 
that  the  great  and  strong  winde  and  the  Earthquake  and  the  Fire 
(wherein  Elijah's  his  Ministry  had  consisted)  did  indeed  go  before 
the  L(ord),  but  that  the  Lord  did  not  dwell  therein,  but  in  the 
still  ae  thereall  creating  voice  and  that  there  were  yet  7000  left 
besides  him  that  had  not  bowed  unto  nor  kissed  Baal;  though  they 
were  hid  and  unknown  to  him,  and  had  not  ministered  publiquily 
with  storming  and  quaking  and  burning  Jealousy  as  he  had  done. 
Thereupon  being  Condemned  to  substitute  another  in  his  Room 
(viz:  to  edifie,  whereas  hitherto  he  had  but  destroyed),  he  was 
soon  after  taken  up  into  Paradise,  by  the  same  element  wherein  he 
had  ministered.  This  Eleijah  leads  to  Ye  first  Wilderness  in  the 
New  Testament,  the  Claus  of  the  old  John,  the  Precursor  of  the 
Messiah,  who  after  his  education  was  also  in  the  Wilderness,  till 
the  day  of  his  Shewing  unto  Israel  in  the  Spirit  and  Power  of 


The  Journal   of   Kclpins.  91 

Eleijah,  baptizing  with  water  to  Repentance,  as  the  first  Eleijah 
had  baptized  with  Fier  for  Destruction.  What  he  did  in  the 
Wilderness  is  not  described,  but  by  that  what  hath  been  said  we 
may  safely  conclude  that  he  was  gratified  there  for  his  so  great  a 
Ministry.  That  God  appeared  also  unto  him  there  appearcth  out 
of  what  he  saith  himself  (Joh.  1,  33).  He  that  sent  me  to  Bap- 
tize the  same  said  unto  me.  I  will  not  draw  the  Parallelism  any 
further,  lest  I  should  prove  tedious  at  least.  That  like  as  the  ac- 
corded of  him  who  succeeded  Eleijah,  raised  the  dead  man  (2  Reg. 
13,  21),  so  He  who  succeeded  John,  by  his  death  became  the  Head, 
the  Spring,  the  Principle  and  cause  of  Life  and  Resurrection  unto 
all  that  believed  in  Him,  both  for  Soul  and  Body.  This  is  the  last 
and  greatest  Witness  I  am  to  produce  JESUS  the  Messiah  of  God, 
our  God  and  Saviour,  the  centre  of  all,  who  also  in  likeness  of  the 
first  Lawgiver  Moses  was  40  days  (the  40  years  of  Moses  being 
thus  abridged)  in  the  Wilderness  and  tempted  there  with  all 
manner  of  Temptations  (though  without  sin,  wherein  He  hath  the 
only  Prerogative  above  all,  Heb.  4,  15;  2,  28).  The  Scripture  in- 
deed maketh  mention  of  his  firey  trials  (1  Pet.  4,  12),  But  no- 
where saith  what  they  was  or  are.  They  cannot  be  described ;  it  is 
only  experience  which  can  teach  them  best.  The  three  temptations 
that  happened  at  the  End  of  the  40  days  (Matt.  4)  centre  in  this: 
//  He  was  the  Son  of  God  or  Not!  which  indeed  hath  more  to  say 
than  is  commonly  supposed.  The  very  Ground  of  the  Christian 
Religion  circling  therein  and  is  founded  thereupon,  as  appears  from 
Matt.  16,  16;  Joh.  11,  27;  1  Joh.  4,  15;  5,  5;  and  is  the  greatest 
Stumbling  block  to  the  Jews  (Joh.  19,  7)  and  to  the  Turks,  the 
Latter  believing  that  Jesus  the  Son  of  Mary  (as  they  style  him) 
is  the  word  of  God  incarnate,  and  that  he  is  anointed  to  the  Holy 
Ghost  above  all  the  Prophets  and  above  Mahomed,  and  that  he  is 
to  be  the  Judge  of  the  Quick  and  Dead  and  of  Mahomed  himself ; 
but  that  He  is  the  Son  of  God  they  cannot  believe,  for,  say  they, 
God  is  a  Spirit  and  cannot  beget  a  man  for  his  Son,  &c.  And  no 
wonder,  this  being  a  Mystery  surpassing  all  humane  and  Angeelicall 
understanding;  nor  is  it  to  be  found  out  by  the  same,  it  depending 


92  Letter  to  Hester  Palmer. 

solely  from  the  Revelation  of  the  Father,  like  as  that  of  the  Father 
depends  from  the  Reception  of  the  Son  and  M.  K.,  is  yet  to  answer 
the?  Why  Jesus  being  God  of  very  God,  became  to  be  Man  and 
died  ?  The  Prophets  and  Patriarchs  have  been  tempted  indeed  with 
great  Temptations,  but  none  like  this,  none  of  the  Nature  of  this, 
they  being  not  capable  of  the  same,  as  being  the  Sons  of  God 
through  Faith  in  Him,  who  being  God,  was  to  be  made  Man 
(Exod.  .3,  14,  where  it  should  have  been  interpreted:  I  Shall  be, 
what  I  shall  be,  viz: — Man)  as  we  through  Faith  in  Him  who  was 
God  and  is  made  Man.  But  Jesus  having  past  this  flry  ordeal, 
He  received  the  Almightiness  from  his  Father,  whereof  he  made  no 
bragging  Ostentation,  as  Robbers  make  of  their  Pray,  but  humbled 
himself  unto  the  death  even  the  death  of  the  Cross,  styling  himself 
at  this  side  of  the  Grave  only  the  son  of  Man  (or  mankind,  the 
Greek  word  denoting  both  the  Sexes)  though  He  was  the  son  of 
God:  Wherefore  God  also  by  the  Resurrection  from  the  Dead 
powerfully  declared  him  to  be  his  Son  (Rom.  1,  4;  Psal.  2.  Act.) 
exalting  him  above  all,  Lord  over  all  worlds,  visible  and  invisible, 
this  and  that  which  is  to  come  (Eph.  1,  2;  Phil.  2,  6-1 1). 

To  these  four  I  will  add  two  more  out  of  the  Scripture,  pass- 
ing by  the  rest  (Heb.  11,  38).  This  first  is  David,  that  man  after 
God's  own  Heart,  who  was  10  years  in  the  Wilderness  and  exer- 
cised in  continual  Sufferings  and  Sorrows  (as  his  Psalms  bear  wit- 
ness) before  He  was  installed  in  the  Kingdom,  to  which  He  was 
chosen  and  annointed  so  many  years  before.  The  second  is  that  great 
Apostle  of  the  Gentiles  Paul,  who  abided  seven  years  in  the  Deserts 
of  Arabia  (Gal.  1,  17,  and  as  the  antient  Church  Records  bear 
witness),  before  he  went  out  for  the  Conversion  of  the  Gentiles.  I 
could  produce  a  whole  Cloud  of  such  chosen  Vessels  out  of  the 
antient  Records  of  the  first  Christians,  who  beeing  prepared  in  the 
Wild's  some  for  10,  some  for  20,  some  for  40  years,  after  their 
coming  forth  converted  whole  Cities,  wrought  signs  and  Miracles, 
was  to  their  Disciples  as  living  Oracles,  as  the  mouth  of  God 
through  whom  he  fed  and  guided  them,  but  having  exceeded  the 
limits  of  a  letter  allready,  I  must  stop  the  Vein  which  so  liberally 


The  Journal  of  Kclpius.  93 

would  diffuse  it  self;  I  hope  what  hath  been  said  manifested  to  the 
full,  that  God  hath  prepared  alwais  his  most  eminent  Instruments 
in  the  Wilderness. 

When  we  consider  now  with  a  serious  introversion  of  our  minds 
those  Three  states  of  the  Wild's,  we  shall  find  That  there  is  no 
entring  into  the  first  Wild's  without  a  going  out  of  Spiritual  Egypt; 
and  so  consequently  no  entring  into  the  second  without  passing  the 
first;  And  so  on,  no  entring  into  the  Third  without  passing  the 
second  state. 

We  shall  find  in  the  next  place,  that  like  as  there  is  a  long 
Struggling  and  Groaning  under  the  Egyptian  Burdens  before  the 
delivery  from  the  same  ensueth,  So  there  is  a  long  contest  between 
the  first  and  second  Birth  in  their  Wilderness-Station  before  the 
Second  is  set  at  perfect  Liberty  and  made  ready  to  enter  and  possess 
Caanan :  But  how  long  the  Parallelism  of  the  second  and  third  state 
may  run  together,  and  where  the  Borders  of  each  meet  together  or 
if  there  be  any  Borders  at  all,  I'll  leave  to  higher  graduated  Souls 
than  mine  is  to  enquire ;  by  it  to  speak  my  mind :  me  thinks  the 
Childhood  and  Manhood  may  both  well  consist  with  the  second 
state,  and  one  may  arrive  to  the  manhood  in  Christ  without  ever 
entering  the  Third  Station,  this  being  only  for  some  chosen  Vessels 
for  a  peculiar  administration  which  requires  also  peculiar  and  extra- 
ordinary Qualifications  and  Endowments,  which  they  are  to  acquire 
and  make  trial  of  in  this  Third  Station  before  they  appear  and 
show  themselves  to  the  Israel  of  God.  So  that  every  one  that  is  to 
enter  the  Third  must  of  necessity  be  acquainted  with  the  second  and 
first.  But  not  every  one  that  hath  entered  the  Second  and  after 
he  is  even  with  the  first  must  also  enter  the  Third  Station. 

By  the  consideration  of  the  Third  State  we  shall  find  what  a 
wighty  thing  it  is  to  appear  and  to  show  oneself  to  the  Israel  of 
God,  as  immediately  called  chosen  and  sent  by  the  Lord.  Such  a 
being  made,  as  Paul  saith  (1  Cor.  4,  9)  a  Spectacle  to  the  World 
and  to  Angels  and  to  Men.  And  what  good  reason  Moses  had  to 
resist  so  hard  when  he  was  sent,  whom  God  having  heard  the  crey 
and  Prayers  of  his  People,  did  force  as  it  were  and  thrust  or  cast 


94  Letter  to  Hester  Palmer. 

forth  (see  Matt,  n,  38)  where  it  should  have  been  thurst  or 

forth  instead  of  sent  forth).  And  what  a  great  presumption  it  is, 
on  the  other  Hand,  to  go  forth  without  being  thus  duly  prepared 
beforehand.  For  though  such  may  have  inspirations,  Revelations, 
Motions  and  the  like  Extraordinary  Favours ;  yea,  may  have  arrived 
at  the  very  Manhood  in  Christ  (which  truly  is  a  high  attainment), 
yet  they  will  effect  and  build  nothing,  but  only  (if  they  do  any  thing 
at  all)  destroy,  as  we  see  in  the  instances  of  Moses  and  Elias, 
before  they  had  been  in  that  Wild's.  Yea,  there  is  no  small  Danger 
of  loosing  themselves  and  to  bruise  and  grind  that  good  seed,  which 
was  not  designed  for  Meat  but  for  increase,  not  for  to  be  sent  forth 
but  to  be  kept  in  an  honest  and  Good  Heart.  (Luc.  — ).  Such 
are  indeed  with  Child,  they  are  in  pain,  but  (as  the  common 
Translation  saith,  Esa.  26,  28,  and  as  the  common  experience 
wittnesseth  to  be  so)  they  bring  forth  as  it  were  but  Winde,  they 
make  no  deliverance  in  the  earth,  neither  do  the  Inhabitants  of  the 
World  fall ;  Whereas  if  they  was  duly  prepared  and  had  stood  the 
firey  ordeal  it  would  fare  with  them,  not  as  with  the  common,  but 
as  the  Translation  the  first  Christians  made  use  of  hath  it :  Through 
thy  Tears  Lord  we  have  conceived  and  have  been  in  Pain  of  Birth, 
and  have  brought  forth  the  Spirit  of  Salvation,  which  Salvation  we 
have  wrought  on  Earth;  we  shall  not  fall,  but  all  that  dwell  on 
Earth  shall  fall. 

I  had  many  Considerations  more  to  add,  as  also  what  the  Wilder- 
ness it  self  is  in  each  of  these  States,  having  spoken  only  of  some 
of  the  Inhabitants  thereof  and  of  some  of  their  Qualities  and 
Circumstances,  and  this  rather  under  a  veil  and,  as  it  were,  but 
glancing  at  the  Marrow  and  Substance.  Nor  have  I  counted  the 
number  of  the  Wilderness-Time,  but  touched  only  the  root  thereof, 
which  is  40  Sun-Days  for  the  New  Birth  and  42  Moons  or  Nights 
for  the  Old  (which  last  I  have  not  so  much  as  mentioned). 
Neither  have  I  measured  from  the  Red-Sea  of  the  Old  Birth  to  the 
Jordan  of  the  New,  and  a  hundred  such  things  more.  But  my 
beloved  and  esteemed  Friend !  this  was  to  write  a  Volume  and  not 
a  Letter,  And  I  begin  allmost  to  fear  that  I  have  ventured  too  much 


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The  Journal  of  Kelpius. 


95 


upon  your  Patience  this  first  time,  not  considering  also  the  wall 
between  us.  Oh!  that  we  may  behold  our  Beloved  alwais,  standing 
behind  our  Wall,  looking  forth  att  the  Window,  shewing  himself 
thorow  the  Lattesse,  saying  Rise  up  my  Love,  my  fair  one  and 
come  away  (Cant.  29,  10).  To  whose  Love-embraces  leaving  you, 
I  remain, 

Your  sincere,  though  unworthy  Friend, 

J.K. 
Rocksborrow,  1706,  d.  25,  Maji. 
For  Hesther  Pallmer, 

in  Long-Island  in  Flushing. 


KELPIUS'S  "METHOD  OF  PRAYER." 


•» 


OW  concerned  Magister  Kelpius 
was  for  the  spiritual  welfare  of 
the  German  settlers  in  Penn's  Colony 
on  the  Delaware,  where  every  effort 
was  made  by  the  Quakers  to  incorporate 
the  Germans  in  their  fold,  is  shown  by 
the  compilation  by  Kelpius  of  a  little 
prayer  book  of  32  pages,  six  inches  by 
3^2  inches.  The  title  of  this  brochure 
was  „<£ute  $urt$eunb  SegreifKge anleitiuuj 
ym  ftillen  ©cbet." 

No  copy  of  the  original  edition,  so 
far  as  known,  has  come  down  to  us.  It  is  said  to  have  been 
printed  by  Reynier  Jansen,  about  the  year  1700,  and  was 
the  first  German  devotional  book  to  be  printed  in  the  west- 


96  Letter  to  Hester  Palmer. 


obtt  Itifytti 

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[Sntnacf)  M6  iVwere  @ebdl  em  fo  ibid)* 
tiger  *))unc£  jjl>  t>af?  man  DaflWbe  D  i< 
eingige SWiteeC nennen  fati/ju  Der  TJolk 
femmen&dt  in  Wefettt  fcben  jugeiangen/  unt> 
We  lautere  uiitntereffirte  Stebe  in  unfern  •Serpen 
anjuric&ten;  «n&  Da  alle  Sbri|Ien(n>c|<^  folcbe 
in  Der  LZbat  fepn  n>oHen)  ju  Diefem  tgtanD  Deir 
fautern&'ebe  unt>  33oIlf  ommenbeit  feruffenjin&# 
UnD  Dcnenfelben  fraft  WefeS  3iuf3  We  n^tgc 
©na&e  bargereic&et  ttiriv  urn  (otdfjen  (gtinb  $a 
erretcben:  fo  fcfjicff  fid)  DiefeS  titftere  tytbtt  fuir 
atlerfefl  ^erfonen/  ja  fo  gar  audi)  fur  We  dBcr^ 
jimpeffte  wnD  atterDumtfe  &ure>  al$  ttwlc&e  fof* 
tfKrfet)  2lrf  &e$  ©cbetS  fdljig  f?n&/  unD  e$  iw< 
ricbten  Fdnotrt. 

<£$  bringt  un$  fcafielbe  am  aflerbafWgffert  $« 
&tt  SSereinigung  unt>  ju  Der  <Sinf6rtmgfcit  DeS 

FIRST   PAGE  OF   FRANKLIN  AND  ARMBUSTER'S  EDITION   OF  1756. 
THE  ONLY  COPY  IN  THE  COLLECTION  OF  JULIUS  F.  SACHSE. 


Kelpius's  "Method  of  Prayer."  97 

ern  world,  nor  is  it  known  whether  this  was  printed  with 
German  or  Latin  type.1 

A  second  German  edition  was  printed  by  Franklin  and 
Armbruster  in  1756,  of  which  the  only  known  copy  is  in 
the  collection  of  the  writer.  There  evidently  was  no  gen- 
eral title  page;  the  printers  and  date  are  known  from  the 
advertisements  in  the  local  paper. 

A  facsimile  of  the  first  page  with  its  half  title  „$ur$er 
Seflriff  obcr  leidjteS  9Jttttel  %w  SBeten  ober  mit  ©ott  311  reben," 
is  shown  upon  the  opposite  page,  following  is  Dr.  Chris- 
topher Witt's  translation  of  the  text : 

"  For  as  much  as  internal  Prayer  is  so 
Weighty  a  Point,  that  one  may  call 
it  the  only  means  to  attain  to  Per- 
fection in  this  Life,  and  to  kindle  the  Pure 
and  disinterested  Love  in  our  Heart's;  and 
as  all  Christians  (who  will  indeed  be  such) 
are  Called  to  this  State  of  pure  Love  and  per- 
fection, and  will,  by  the  power  of  this  call 
have  the  necessary  Grace  offered  to  them 
to  attain  such  a  State.     So  this  inivard 
prayer  suits  all  persons,  even  the  most 
Simple  and  ignorant,  ivho  are  also  capable  of 
performing  this  Order  or  Manner  of  prayer. 
This  brings  us  soonest  to  the  Union  with 
and  Conformity  to  the  Will  of  God!  " 

Dr.  Christopher  Witt2  who  translated  this  pamphlet 
into  English  was  an  English  physician  and  mystic,  who 
joined  the  mystical  community  on  the  Wissahickon  in  the 

1  Cf.    "  German    Pietists    in    Provincial    Pennsylvania,"   Phila.,    Kelpius, 
1895,  P-  102. 

2  Ibid. 


98  Letter  to  Hester  Palmer. 

year  1704,  and  died  in  1765  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety 
years,  being  the  last  survivor  of  the  Kelpius  community  on 
the  Wissahickon. 

Dr.  Witt's  English  translation  was  first  printed  by 
Henry  Miller,  the  German  printer  of  Philadelphia,  in  the 
year  1761,  whose  establishment  was  on  Second  Street  next 
to  the  corner  of  Race  Street.  Dr.  Witt  gave  a  copy  of 
this  edition  to  Christian  Lehman  of  Germantown,  who 
had  been  one  of  his  students,  who  made  the  following 
notes  upon  the  back  of  the  title  and  last  page  of  his  copy, 
viz.  :3 

Reverse  of  Tide: 

Christian  Lehman,  Favore,  Christophori,  De  Witt,  Natus,  10th 
November  1675  in  Wiltshire  in  England.  Given  xbr:  5th  A0 
Dom.  1763,  Denatus  at  Germantown,  January  30th,  A0  Dom  1765 
Buried  February  1st  1765,  Etatis  Sue  89  years  2  months  20  days 
Natus  ioth  Novembr  A.  D.  1675. 

On  last  page: 

The  foregoing  was  originally  composed  in  the  German  Tongue 
by  John  Kelpius  a  German  and  was  Translated  into  English  by 
Christopher  Witt  who  died  January  30th  176s,  aged  89  yrs  2  mo. 
20  days. 

Dr.  Witt  was  buried  in  the  Warner  burying  ground  on 
the  hill  top  back  of  the  Warner  house,  at  the  corner  of  the 
Main  and  High  Street,  locally  known  as  "Spook  hill."4 
A  part  of  this  ground  is  now  covered  by  the  chancel  of  St. 
MichaePs  P.  E.  Church,  under  the  floor  of  which  rest  his 
remains. 

Two  years  later,  1763,  a  second  edition  of  the  English 
version  of  Kelpius's  pamphlet  was  published  at  German- 

3  For  full  account  of  Dr.  Witt,  cf.  ibid.,  pp.  402-418. 

4  cf.  pp.  419-430- 


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Kelpius's  "Method  of  Prayer." 


99 


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Letter  to  Hester  Palmer. 


town  by  Christopher  Sower,  as  the  title  states,  "  The  Sec- 
ond edition  with  addition. "  No  copy  with  any  additional 
matter  has  thus  far  been  found.  The  copy  printed  by  Sower 
in  the  Historical  Society  is  merely  a  reprint  of  the  Miller 
edition  of  1761, 

Facsimiles  of  title  pages  of  both  English  editions  are 
shown  upon  the  opposite  page.  The  originals  are  in  the 
Historical  Society  of  Pennsylvania. 

Magister  Johannes  Kelpius  was  small  of  stature,  slight 
in  frame,  and  suffered  from  an  affection  or  paralysis  of  the 
left  eyelid;  he  was  of  a  frail  constitution,  which  soon  broke 
down  under  frugal  fare  and  abstemious  habits  and  the  ex- 
tremes of  our  variable  climate. 

Kelpius  died  in  the  year  1708,  at  the  early  age  of  thirty- 
five.  He  was  buried  with  the  rites  of  the  Mystical  com- 
munity at  sunset  by  his  brethren.  His  resting  place  is  not 
known. 

Julius  F.  Sachse. 

September  20,  1916. 


